23 August 2018

Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership is spearheading the Brighton Mainline Alliance, a group of businesses and organisations that support the aim for Government to fully commit to funding strategic investment in the Brighton Mainline, specifically to unlock the Croydon bottleneck.

This investment is vital to drive growth and productivity across the whole region, protect its economic potential and would include the following changes:

 

  • A bigger, better East Croydon station
  • 'Selhurst triangle' flyovers
  • Lower Addiscombe Road / Windmill Bridge reconstruction
  • Improvements to Norwood Junction station

 

All 16 Local Authorities in the Coast to Capital area have now joined the Alliance bringing the total number of members to over 70. The campaign has also been included in Coast to Capital's new Strategic Economic Plan - Gatwick 360 - as a transport priority to enhance capacity, connectivity and resilience. This railway investment is fundamental for businesses and central to the region's links to London and international connectivity.

 

Coast to Capital is calling for more businesses and organisations across the area to join the Alliance to add further weight to its strong collective voice. If your business or organisation wants to demonstrate its support please send your logo to jake.daniels@coast2capital.org.uk.

Jonathan Sharrock, Chief Executive at Coast to Capital said:

"We are thrilled to have such strong support for our campaign from businesses, local representative groups and our Local Authorities. Our region desperately needs stronger rail infrastructure and by speaking with a unified business voice we continue to make a strong case for investment."

Councillor Tony Dignum, Leader of Chichester District Council said:

"We fully support the Brighton Mainline Alliance as many of our residents rely on the Brighton Mainline for commuting to work. We have a number of projects planned to boost our local economy and significant improvements to the line would be of further great benefit to our district. The line is vital to our future prosperity and a commitment to more investment would help unlock opportunities not only in our area, but across the south. Investment would have a positive impact on the people who live and work in our district and we fully endorse the alliance's aims."

Councillor Garry Wall, Chairman of the Greater Brighton Economic Board and Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said:

 

"The Brighton Mainline is not just a commuter line; it is an essential transport corridor which is crucial to the economic development of our City Region.

"For too long though there has been severe under-investment in this major transport route, making delays and disruption a daily occurrence. Quite simply, enough is enough.

"It is only by joining together and presenting a united front that we can present the case for long-overdue investment in our transport infrastructure. Our residents, businesses and communities are relying on it."

Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport Mike Goodman said:

 

"We were already championing Crossrail 2 to increase capacity on the South West Mainline so we're also throwing our weight behind improving the overburdened rail line from Brighton. Not only will they both improve journeys for passengers, they will boost powerhouse economies in London, Surrey and across the South East."

Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said:

 

"Improving the entire railway network in the South East is crucial and the Brighton Mainline is a main arterial route and, as such, is a significant economic generator. That's why we are so supportive of the Brighton Mainline Alliance. We need a very strong voice for investment to support and increase economic prosperity in the area."

 

Councillor Martin Fisher, Leader of Tandridge District Council, said:

 

"Tandridge District Council is pleased to join the Brighton Mainline Alliance and is keen to support its campaign for more investment in the Brighton mainline. Although it does not run through the district, it is an important train service used by many of our residents and businesses. The investment the alliance is calling for would fund the types of infrastructure improvements we've identified as vital in our draft Tandridge Local Plan for the coming decade and beyond."

Councillor Peter Lamb, Leader of Crawley Borough Council, said:

 

"Many Crawley residents, including myself, depend upon the Brighton Mainline to get to work every day, and every year the service commuters are forced to endure gets more cramped and less reliable. Without this investment, those conditions will keep getting worse and by 2020 transport models show there simply won't be any space left for passengers to board trains by the time they reach Three Bridges. We cannot allow that to happen, that's why I'm fighting for this investment and I will go on fighting until it's secured."

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