Southern’s two-coach service departs Warrior Square station for Ashford.

Get updated on rail issues at Marshlink AGM

The annual general meeting of the Marshlink line between Hastings and Ashford, which takes place this Friday, offers a chance to catch up on some pressing rail issues. Nick Terdre reports.

In addition to a presentation from Kevin Barry, the line’s community rail development officer, the meeting will also be addressed by local MP Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and David Scorey, director of local train operator Southern.

This should provide an opportunity to get up to date with the campaign to put in a high-speed rail link between Ashford and Bexhill, which according to a recent report commissioned by the Hastings Rother Task Force could bring additional business worth £27 million a year to the area and create several hundred jobs.

The current service run by Southern between Ashford and Brighton is a constant source of complaints – restricted to a mere two coaches, the train is regularly overcrowded during the rush hour. According to Southern, it has no more diesel units to put on the line.

There’s an open agenda and there will be a Q&A session, Kevin Boorman, chair of the Marshlink line community rail partnership, tells HOT. “The Marshlink is the lifeblood of the local community, and we are delighted to be joined for our AGM on Friday by local MP Amber Rudd and David Scorey, from Southern.”

He adds, “It promises to be an interesting meeting, and I hope to see as many people as possible in Rye town hall at 11.30 am on Friday, not just from Rye, but from the many communities the Marshlink line serves.”

Marshlink Line AGM
11.30am, Friday 27 November
Rye Town Hall, Market St, Rye TN31 7LA

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