Contrary to the announcement published in April’s Modern Railways – ‘Uckfield third rail is NR priority’ – upon which our recent website story was based in all good faith – Network Rail has been in touch to say – “unfortunately it’s not true.”
It appears that the journal was at the recent function at Eridge station in conversation with Southern Region’s MD John Halsall whereupon someone got their wires crossed because Network Rail tells us they are“not going to press ahead with electrifying the Uckfield line and we have no funding to do so.” Quite apart from not having “the many millions to do the job”, the Government hasn’t approved it. Despite the disappointment this will cause, we were reassured to be told: “we still have an aspiration to electrify the route and our preference would be using the third rail.”
To read the full updated article go to "The News" section or the BML2 Wealden Line website
END OF THE LINE FOR ANY MORE EXCUSES!
If you haven't yet read our actual submission to the GREAT BRITISH RAILWAYS TRANSITION TEAM,
it is still available to download and print by clicking here