More room for railway passengers
OVERCROWDING on busy commuter trains from London to Eastbourne looks set to be eased with more carriages.
Southern has announced it is providing more than 450 extra seats for evening commuters when the new timetable comes into effect in May. The 16.17 from London Victoria to Eastbourne/ Littlehampton and the 17.23 service from London Bridge to Eastbourne will have 12 carriages compared with the eight they have today.
Southern regularly monitors passenger loadings on key commuter routes and had identified these two services as the highest priorities to benefit from additional carriages.
Strengthening both services from eight to 12 carriages will provide more than 450 extra seats for passengers travelling between Victoria/London Bridge and Littlehampton/Eastbourne in the weekday evening peak period.
Southern's Service delivery director James Burt said, "We know there are certain routes on our network which are very busy and in need of extra seats. Our passenger loading figures showed us the Eastbourne services were in much need of strengthening – and so did our passengers.
"I am sure our Eastbourne commuters and those using stations along the route will benefit greatly from these additional seats."
Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson has welcomed the plans to add extra carriages to busy commuter trains.
He said, "This is great news for hard-pressed commuters in my constituency. I have been working closely for some time with local commuter groups to improve these services. I pay tribute to all their hard work and persistence.
"We have lobbied ministers and train operators, and it has finally paid off. These extra carriages will mean less overcrowding on busy commuter trains and a less stressful journey for many people."
Belinda Fordham, chair of the East Coast Commuters Group, said the increase in carriages will significantly reduce the overcrowding on the services.
"We are delighted that Southern have at last acted to make passengers' journeys and lives easier," said Belinda. "It's a major success for the group. Since December 2008 some passengers have been standing for upwards of an hour and even as far as Polegate.
"The extended trains are now as long as the infrastructure will allow, so overcrowding in the evening peak now needs to be addressed by modifying the timetable itself."
Belinda will be representing ECCG at the next Southern Stakeholder meeting to take this forward.
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
