About our Action Group
BRAG was formed in 2005 in response to a proposal by the rail authorities to abandon through train services from the Bexhill area to London Victoria via Haywards Heath.
Following this success, BRAG continues to campaign for improvements to rail services in the Bexhill and surrounding area.
Our short term aims include:
- More frequent train services.
- More seats on existing services.
- Improvements to evening rush-hour services from London. These services are currently very erratic with above-average journey times.
- A faster off-peak service to and from Victoria and the end of the division and attachment of trains at Haywards Heath, which adds to journey times and causes passenger confusion.
- Improvements to station and on-board train passenger announcements.
- Improvements to the local stations.
- An increase in the number of Eurostar services using Ashford International.
- Better coordination of connecting services at St Leonards Warrior Square.
Our longer term aims include:
- Re-instatement of the Willingdon Chord (the direct line from Pevensey & Westham to Polegate, East Sussex which would enable the journey time from Bexhill to Lewes, Brighton, Gatwick, Croydon and London to be reduced by around 20 minutes.
- New stations at Stone Cross, Glyne Gap and St Leonards West Marina.
- Upgrading and electrification of the whole route between Brighton and Ashford International.
- Evaluation of the possibility of extending high-speed Javelin services to Hastings and Bexhill via Ashford and the Marshlink. Potentially this could offer a journey time of around 1 hour London to Hastings and 1 hour 15 minutes to Bexhill!
- We also support the re-opening of the Lewes to Uckfield line, which would provide a valuable additional route from East Sussex to London (reducing pressure on the Brighton Main Line).
If you are a rail user and/or support our views then please get in touch and/or come along to one of our meetings. Contact us by Email
Officers of BRAG:
- Hugh Sharp (Chairman)
- Brian Hord, CBE (Deputy Chairman)
- Andy Black (Secretary)
- Martin Woodfine (Treasurer)
- Ray Chapman (Research & Inter-Group Liaison Officer)
Endorsements:
'BRAG is an informed and active group lobbying hard for local rail passenger interests.'
Sharon Hedges, Passenger Focus
'1066 Country Marketing recognises the need for developing sustainable tourism, and a good train service is key to that. We recognise, acknowledge, and applaud the efforts of BRAG to maintain and improve rail services in this area, and look forward to continue working with them.'
Kevin Boorman, 1066 Country Marketing
'South East Health Ltd are pleased to be associated with BRAG, in connection with their support at Bexhill Railway Station. Keep up the good work!'
Lisa Phillimore, South East Health Ltd.
Next planned BRAG meetings (Mondays, 7pm at the offices of Hastings Direct, Conquest House, Collington Avenue, Bexhill):
12th July 2010
9th August 2010
13th September 2010
