I’ve been travelling along the Marshlink line recently asking passengers about their rail experiences and issues and also their understanding and concerns about the effect on them of the proposed blockade of Ore Tunnel for a couple of weeks – see last week’s article.
Anyone can comment on and make guesses about these matters, but we have industry professionals who have a deeper knowledge and understanding of rail matters coming to the MarshLink Action Group’s AGM in Rye Town Hall on Friday, February 23 to present to us and endeavour to answer our questions.
With regard to the blockade of the line, I was asked many questions. Network Rail is now in the planning phase for works but, in case you don’t know, the last time there were extensive works on the Ore Tunnel, in early 2012, Southern had to close the whole line for the duration of the works (nine weeks in that case) – so no trains ran along the line to the east of the tunnel during that period and replacement buses covered the route. With works this time expected to take place from around October 26 this time for about two weeks, we all want to know what the effect is likely to be on travel along the Marshlink route – but it may be a bit early for categoric answers. But why not take the opportunity, whilst plans are being formulated, to hear directly from those who will be specifying the work required on the Ore Tunnel and the effect on travel during the period of the blockade.
Representatives of Southern and Network Rail together with Sally-Ann Hart MP will make presentations to MLAG’s annual general meeting starting at 6:45pm (presentations from 7pm) on Friday, February 23 at Rye Town Hall – further information about the meeting and the chairman’s report of the last year can be found here.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and hearing your questions and comments.
Image Credits: Stuart Harland .