Letter: Action Is Required To Persuade Government To Improve Rail Links

Published on: 26 Oct, 2026
Updated on: 26 Oct, 2026

From Richard Pill

CEO British Regional Transport Association (BRTA)

Our Association sees and hears the cries of many commuters that it does not take much for the existing rail network across the South East to get overcrowded; one hitch can ripple across the network resulting in delays and cancellations.

With the push for growth through development, without more and better railway infrastructure, duplicate routes and indeed, new routes tapping into new flows and enabling quicker journeys; exacerbation of dysfunction in transport on and off the rails, is highly likely.

We are calling on the Government to protect former rail routes to help keep reopening options open and study proposals to explore if there is in fact a case for reopening/new-build and pursue it in the name of modal choices, cutting road building blight and reducing congestion and harmful pollution.

On rail routes to Brighton; Lewes – Uckfield is one; but the push stops short of pursuit of reopening.

On the matter of Shoreham-Horsham-Guildford for direct running to/from Reading and Heathrow; getting commitment to route protection and deviation lands as well as studies to make the case (BRTA is not resourced to do so); is what is required to optimise reasonable recovery.

The national Government has a pivotal role to play and people can email their local MP in support of the BRTA calls: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons?sort=1

BRTA is voluntary and welcomes members of the public to join and offer to help as volunteers. We welcome all ages and backgrounds as long as people can be reliable, flexible and work with the grain of what we are seeking to achieve.

Please see our website for more: https://brtarail.com/

This is the time for action!