Support the Guildford-Horsham-Shoreham Rail Link Reinstatement Campaign

ERTA calls on people everywhere to wade in and support the campaign for reinstating the Guildford-Horsham-Shoreham Rail Link. It needs pro-active protection with Government having a role and responsibility but sadly not insisting it be done. The route is under pressure from various development pressures. Meanwhile Binstead shows what you get without investment in the railway - more roads, bypasses and development with yet more traffic turning up at urban interfaces causing congestion and air pollution, but also land used for more parking is land which cannot be used for employment or housing for example. There's a sense these things are not being properly thought through. We need campaigners to join with us and urge councils to come together with resolve that 'the railway must be reopened'. The Wey and Arun Canal project does not have to assume the old railway trackbed, it has other options. Please join ERTA or at least our email loop for more information: richard.erta@gmail.com

Greetings. Letters sent to local MP's calling for the following, are far more powerful than remote hosted emails from people living outside the areas concerned, however caring they may be. If an MP gets a handful of letters, they are legally obliged to at least look into it and take action where appropriate. Therefore we appeal to you and please forward to like-minds - to email/write to the local MP's between Guildford-Waverley/South West Surrey/Horsham and beyond to Shoreham and Brighton. The missing rail link of Guildford-Cranleigh-Horsham-Shoreham is a vital missing strategic rail link for both carrying passenger and freight off local and regional roads.

ERTA has updated its diagram and tables Zoom Meetings which are open to all/please encourage others to attend these.

The next one is:

July 5th 14.00 hrs Guildford and South East Area Meeting Hosted by Mr Iain Sears iainsear22@hotmail.com Please do contact Mr Sear and register your interest.

Currently the route is used as a cycle-way/footpath 'green corridor' but now there's a dual application for turning part of the route to a canal 'Wey and Arun'. This, apart from a broadening of the route, would in our view conflict with the railway interest and other options exist combining existing water courses and new build elsewhere. These applications tabled at Guildford and Waverley must be rejected to keep the rail option alive surely? Broadening the trackbed on which a railway could go, would require lands but could accommodate a railway and perimeter fence with walk-way/cycle-way slewed but accommodated. But a canal would be a completely different animal to deal with.

I attach updated brochure and flyer and welcome volunteers to be found to advocate for the railway at the local level. We do have some members in the area, but Covid has taken a toll and physical meetings will take time to nurture in the new context. You may find perusal of our website: https://ertarail.co.uk/publicity/ useful.

You may observe from our diagram, we want a new direct link between Polegate and Stone Cross. Please again, help protect lands to ensure it can be done and the benefits to all received. Development with a new station on existing lines, does not address the time-taken to reverse at Eastbourne whereas if the direct link was restored in some shape or form, it would enable some Hastings-Brighton fasts and more capacity for London-Gatwick-Resort fasts as well, bringing diverse footfall and spend sustainably all year round.

We appeal to Government to enact measures to:

a. protect rail routes wanted for reopening/reinstatement/select new builds

b. to bring the councils together and bid for funding

c. ensure a rolling programme of rail reopenings is on-going, not just a gimmick with a disproportionate spend on new roads, rather than new rails.

Please do email Rt. Hon Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport and the Rail Minister, Mr Chris Heaton-Harris MP to get a nationwide plan and action going to keep options open, especially in a context of laissez-faire development without much responsibility to these vital corridors and links.

Does it make any sense to support Guildford-Woking-Heathrow without a rail link south of Guildford for through trains to once delivered and loaded, to run on to elsewhere including Horsham, Crawley and Gatwick from the south or Brighton via Shoreham and those audiences vice versa? Trains waiting on platforms at Guildford going no-where occupy space other trains could be using, so we do need more options and capacity for diverse rail services and less time waiting at signals. Guided Busways are useless for freight and lock out rail, as the example of Cambridgeshire may well be held up as an illustration: http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/CambridgeBusway.html

Email richard.erta@gmail.com for brochure and flyer pdf.

Update 19-06-21

The following minutes have been submitted to me to redistribute. 

Please contact either David Ferguson or Colin Crawford for any enquiries. Due to restrictions on Covid gatherings indoors, our physical meetings are curtailed and most are Zoom only for the time being. See https://ertarail.co.uk/events/ for details and tap into the relevant host and request inclusion.

Minutes are therefore as follows:

Minutes of ERTA Guildford Saturday 12th June  at 3.00 pm- at The Rodboro Buildings, 1–10 Bridge Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4RY

Present{ David Ferguson, Colin Crawford, Simon Barber, Aliatair Smith (Guildford Society- GS)

1. Appointment of Chair for the meeting was Somon Barber. David Fergusion  was appointed Minute Taker for the meeting
2. The Chairman welcomed members to the meeting particularly Alistair Smith as Chairman of the GS who reciprocated by offering to send copies of various papers and links.
3. Apologies for absence:  Richard Pill, Peter Trevaskis, Cllr

4. Guildford-Cranleigh-Horsham-Shoreham 
a. Trackbed Watch – a general discussion took place.Rushett Farm bridge is closed on a cycle track. Dunsford Aerodrome:planning permission but transfer of ownership from Trinity College Cambridge. The GS is monitoring this case.
5. North Downs Link: Baynards tunnel may need re-boring.There is a problem with the south end of Rudgewick with development on a cutting site. The Guildford Society would like to see a rail reopening to Cranleigh with a branch line to Dunsford firsta

6. Guildford Rail Issues:
The Royal Surrey Hospital is at Grip 3 status for a new station. Burpham & Merrow also a new station. The GS want to increase the Portsmouth line from 4rph to 6 tph and ro 4 tph on the North Dows line and to reduce trains terminating at Guildford except from Effingham
7. Guildford town centre : The GS are supporting  the Council in a total revamps of the town centre which will make it a lot easier to move to the train station.

8. Any Other Business. general discussion.
9. Day, Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting: To be advised.  Members to Liaise directly with theConvenor: Mr David Ferguson: T. 0208 9774181daferguson1212@gmail.com who will  report back to the  EC.

DF/CC 18.6.21

End.

Chairman's Note: The proposed intrusion on the trackbed of the Wey and Arun Canal Project may seem to lock tranquility in, but the flip side if it deters ability for a railway, is that it locks in all growth to go by roads and that in turn will inform demand for road upgrading. The result is more loss of land and countryside with a green oasis rather than getting people onto public transport and enjoying the wider benefits of doing so. Please help by writing to Waverley and Guildford Councils and your local MP.