Long-suffering passengers on the Tonbridge-Hastings line will be relieved that the line is now open along the whole route following a series of land slips. The MP for Hastings is calling for express train services from Hastings to London to run non-stop to Tunbridge Wells. I doubt there is demand for three trains an hour along the route, so some intermediate stations would lose their current two trains an hour service. Possibly one of the morning commuter trains could run non-stop.
The MP is calling also for HS1 to be extended from Ashford to Hastings.
http://amberrudd.co.uk/rail/
Overhead electrification of the Ashford-Hastings line makes no sense unless all services on the route are operated by electric powered trains. The current Ashford-Brighton service is diesel powered and the trains could by replaced by trains equiped to run on dc or ac current.
Surely an even better case could be made for electrifying the Oxted-Uckfield line and extending the line to Lewes.
