New plans in bid to reopen disused rail links at Guildford, Horsham and Shoreham
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Members of The English Regional Transport Association have been campaigning for years to reopen sections of rail lines which have been shut since the 1960s.
And at a public meeting in Horsham this week, they spelled out their new battle plans.
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Hide AdThey aim to get councils and MPs to support reopening the links by commissioning studies and by courting funding.
They see reopening the Guildford-Horsham stretch via Cranleigh as phase 1 with a link from Horsham, Arundel and Shoreham as phase 2.
Association chairman Richard Pill said this would allow the reopening of Reading-Brighton direct as well as Heathrow-Gatwick via Three Bridges.
“Once formal studies are done and show what can be done, then we turn to Government for support, more funding and ultimately go-ahead for delivery.” he said.
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Hide AdLast year the rail fans thought their plans had been scuppered after the Wey and Arun Canal Trust - established to reinstate London’s ‘Lost Route to the Sea’ - was given the go-ahead by Waverley District Council to build a new link near Guildford which would include part of the old railway bed.
But the Canal Trust’s plan has since hit a technical hitch - and the issue may end up being decided on appeal.
Richard Pill pointed out: “The canal has other routing options, the railway is not so lucky.”
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