ERTA Guildford Area Transport Forum ~ Committed to seeking a reopened local Guildford-Horsham rail link. ~

17-11-2022

17 November 2022

 

Press Release

 

ERTA Welcomes Government announcement on reopening Bristol-Portishead local rail link solution

 

ERTA welcomes the announcement for reopening the Bristol-Portishead local rail link solution and wishes it every success. It has been long advocated and campaigned for and yet is but one of many likewise awaiting support across the country as a whole.

 

ERTA calls on the government to top-slice the allocated £27 billion new roads budget and pep up or tilt the Rail Reopenings Fund which is pitted at a mere £500 million. If the switch was enacted by the government, many more local rail schemes could be advanced and rolled out offering better public transport, congestion reduction through choice, more freight off roads and back on the rails as well as reductions to emissions, pollution and land take which new roads inform.

 

“There should be a nationwide switch and plan to ensure every region gets similar schemes. Colne-Skipton and Woodhead in the north and Guildford-Horsham-Shoreham in the south-east and elsewhere.”

 

End of Press Release

 

Further Comment: Mr Richard Pill, ERTA Media Spokesperson:

T. 01234 330090 E. richard.erta@gmail.com

Ref: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-63633295

01 November 2022

Press Release

ERTA Calls for support to reopen the local rail link between Guildford and Surrey and grasp other connectives as well.

About 7 people attended the recently held Guildford Transport Forum in Guildford and ERTA wants to consolidate support for progressing the local rail reopening between Guildford and Horsham. Lots of controversial development is happening beit new build, bypasses and the result is more road traffic. Dunsfold is another expanding area. ERTA calls on local councils to support the idea in policy terms, to protect the route from any further obstruction and round-table with neighbouring councils, agencies and Government to pool resources. We call on them to study the reopening idea with a view to progressing it to become government policy. Courting support and investment would bring benefits of footfall and spend to places like Guildford, a bigger share of visitorship, lower congestion rates. There is a need to be careful on regenerating and developing around Guildford rail station as spare land is needed for more by rail capacity. Rebuilding to Cranleigh and onwards to Horsham would enable trains to run-on to somewhere else than idle in existing through rails blocking other services. If the North Downs Line was made third rail, it would enable Guildford to be part of the Thameslink Network with a semi fast service from East Croydon in addition to existing services. The proposed Southern Heathrow rail link should be supported but extended to Old Oak Common Interchange and link on to the Chiltern Main Line. These give more options to ‘not via London and change’ for everything.

 

End of press release

 

Further comment: Mr Richard Pill 01234 330090 or richard.erta@gmail.com https://heathrowrail.com/

ERTA Guildford Area Transport Forum

~ Committed to seeking a reopened local Guildford-Horsham rail link. ~

Agenda for ERTA Guildford Area Forum: Saturday 29th October at The Rodboro 01483 306366 1–10 Bridge Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4RY https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/surrey/the-rodboro-buildings-guildford Food* 1pm, Business 2-4pm (approximately). All Welcome. For numbers, please let Simon Barber know in advance. *Everyone is expected to pay for their own food and drink!
1.     Apologies for absence
2.     Introductions going round the table and fill in attendance list.
3.     Guildford-Horsham Rail Link: update, issues, goals setting and determine to push it pro-affirmatively through including a direct new link off North Downs Line for direct running south of East Croydon to Cranleigh and Horsham for example.
4.     North Downs Link, in a sea of third rail, surely the easiest option and enable Thameslink direct semi-fast running to Guildford and maybe on to Reading, saving changing at Redhill + new footfall and flow from visitorship off the Thameslink Network.
5.     Guildford Station and adjacent plans, land and capacity issues – plenty or not and what role could run additionally to Horsham enable?
6.     Membership, recruitment and volunteers willing to help on the projects? Rail must come first as it deals with bulk and actually helps remove congestion, pollution and emissions over all.
7.     Woking-Heathrow-Old Oak Common/tunnel to link with Chiltern Main Line and associated.
8.     Any Other Business
9.     Day Date Time and Place of next Meeting – say quarterly, same venue unless invited by others elsewhere within walk/taxi of a well-served railway station relevant to our goals.
·                     Horsham Public Meeting likely to be late April subject to funds and do-ability. Set dates today! Court sponsors and a speaker relevant to what we are seeking to nurture.
·                     Councils needed to help work up the merits, study the case and protect lands for reopening.

Meeting convenor and general information: 

Mr Simon Barber, 20 Fitzherbert House, Kingsmead, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6HT T. 0208 940 4399 E. simon4barber@gmail.com

Typical Thameslink Train these days!