Lewes-Uckfield railway line.

So an extra £500 million has been 'found' to buy off some of the objectors to the HS2 railway.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/8932224/Extra-500m-for-high-speed-rail-tunnel-to-protect-Chilterns.html

See also: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/8933742/8.5-billion-black-hole-from-HS2-high-speed-rail-link-report.html

In Lancashire the Todmorden Curve is to be re-instated to shorten travel time between Burnley and Manchester.

Wales and Scotland have both been re-opening railway lines. In Scotland the latest scheme is to re-open part of the old Waverley route into the Borders which has a sparse population when compared to East Sussex.

Yet in East Sussex there is no progress in re-opening the Lewes-Uckfield Railway. It is forgotten often that the main reason this line closed was because it was in the way of  a grandiose East Sussex County Council scheme to build a relief road in Lewes.  At the time of closure more passengers travelled south from Uckfield to Lewes and Brighton than northwards.  Since the introduction of new trains passenger numbers have soared, to the extent that it is envisaged twelve carriage trains will be needed.

Re-opening the route and electrifying the line between Oxted and Lewes would provide a diversionary route for the London-Brighton main line via Gatwick.  Much more importantly, it would provide new travel opportunities for people living in Edenbridge and Uckfield and relieve traffic congestion.  East Sussex is one of the few (only?) English counties in the south without a motorway running through it.

Although the route near Lewes has been built over, there is an alternative which would make use of the original line which approached Lewes from the north.  This line was closed and the line diverted to approach Lewes from the east. It is feasible to extend the railway from Eridge to Tunbridge Wells Central and thence to Tonbridge.  Better connectivity by public transport between West Kent and Brighton is vital to the economic future of both. 

Looking at other re-opened lines it beggars belief that the Lewes-Uckfield line has not re-opened.  The blame for this rests squarely with East Sussex County Council.