At a packed summit in Hastings, local residents, politicians and rail representatives from Bexhill and Hastings met to discuss plans to bring high-speed Javelin trains from London St Pancras to Bexhill, with a journey time of just 78 minutes.
The summit was organised by Hastings & Rye MP, Amber Rudd MP. Huw Merriman, Parliamentary Candidate for Bexhill and Battle, addressed the conference and set out the economic benefits which high-speed rail would bring to Bexhill. Huw said “Real progress is being made for High Speed Rail and we received a commitment from our partners in Government and the Rail Industry to make this happen by 2019. We must now develop the economic case for the new link to ensure it is delivered”.
Also speaking at the Summit were the Rail Minister, Claire Perry MP, Amber Rudd MP, Ray Chapman of East Sussex Rail Alliance and representatives from Network Rail, South Eastern and Southern.
The High Speed Rail line will be an extension from Ashford International stopping at Rye, Hastings and Bexhill. The commitment from Network Rail has been to fit the project into their 2019 spending window.
Concluded Huw “I would like to thank Amber Rudd MP for being the driving force for this summit and for her vision in bringing this initiative from the drawing board to a Javelin train running for the day between Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne”.