Upgrade Seaford - Brighton trains says MacCleary

BREAKING: New trains announced for Seaford-Brighton line, text from the reply to James from Southern rail is below this article.

James MacCleary has written to Southern rail to call for new trains between Seaford and Brighton, to replace the oldest active trains in the UK.

The Seaford-Brighton line serves major coastal towns of Seaford and Newhaven, the county town of Lewes as well as the University of Sussex and Brighton, and Brighton and Hove Albion at Falmer. 

The 313 class trains used on the line are the oldest rolling stock in the UK, and were 35 years old when they were introduced. 

James said: 

'It's plain to see these old trains simply aren't fit for purpose. They're run down, the seats are full of holes and there are no toilets. It's not the rail experience we should be offering in 2023. 

'If we're going to ask people to get out of their cars, it's vital that we're improving public transport, not watching it get worse.

'Rail fares are so expensive and the government has done nothing about it. The least we could expect for our rail fares is to have modern trains.

'I've written to Southern rail to demand better.'

* * * * * * *

- Letter text is below

Dear Southern Rail Team,

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the Seaford-Brighton line. This line has the oldest trains in the country, and as a regular user of this line, I have experienced numerous issues with the service, including the absence of toilets and an unreliable schedule.

The Seaford-Brighton line is a vital transportation route for many residents in the area, and it is crucial that the service is safe, efficient, and comfortable. Unfortunately, the current trains on this line are outdated and do not meet the standard we need to encourage rail use in 2023. The absence of toilets on the trains is a significant inconvenience, and will stop some people using the trains, especially those with disabilities. The trains are in an increasingly poor condition.

I am therefore urging Southern Rail to invest in new trains for the Seaford-Brighton line. This would not only improve the reliability of the service, but also provide a better experience for commuters. It is vital we encourage more people to travel by rail.  The current situation is unacceptable, and I believe that it is essential that immediate action is taken to address the issues with this service.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

James MacCleary Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Lewes constituency.

Southern Rail's response to James's letter is copied below:

"As you note, while the Class 313s were modernised in 2010, clearly younger rolling stock, especially with toilets has long been desirable and we have been working on this for quite some time. 

"I am therefore pleased to update you that with the introduction of the Summer 2023 timetable from Sunday 21 May, we are planning to entirely retire the Class 313, replaced by our Electrostar trains.

"The two trains already share many routes, so this change will mean that customers will now always have a more modern train, still with a second member of staff on board.

"With the addition of air-conditioning, accessible toilets, and a £55m upgrade currently underway, these trains will be much more comfortable for customers as well as staff and help us to win customers back as we head into the busy summer period."