MP raises Hassocks services with Rail Minister

Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert met the Rail Minister, Jo Johnson MP, this week to raise his concerns about the new GTR/Southern timetable which has removed some peak time direct services between Hassocks and Clapham Junction.

The meeting on Tuesday (22 May) followed a letter from Mr Herbert to the Minister and GTR asking them to look again at the proposed changes.  This week GTR responded to say the overall picture for Hassocks sees an increase in frequency of off-peak services stopping at Clapham Junction and onto Victoria.   They added that, while they appreciate passengers will need to change trains (for peak-time services), the journey time is only increasing by an average of 7 minutes.

At the meeting Mr Herbert pointed out that services were being reduced at a time where demand is set to grow significantly in the village, and he asked the Minister to consider adapting the restrictions on Gatwick Express trains stopping at Clapham Junction en route to London Victoria.

In response Mr Johnson said that he would write to Mr Herbert with an analysis of the totality of changes affecting Hassock’s services and passengers.

Commenting after the meeting, Mr Herbert said: “I was glad to have the opportunity to press these concerns and I look forward to seeing the Minister’s response and how services overall to Hassocks have been affected by the timetable changes.

“There have also been concerns about the introduction of the new timetable, with disruption to services, and I will be raising these with GTR as well.”

ENDS

Notes  

   1.     For Nick’s comment on BBC South East Today (16 May) please see https://www.nickherbert.com/speeches/2018/5/17/hassocks-timetable-changes.

   2.     To see GTR’s response to Nick Herbert and his letter about the timetable changes see https://tinyurl.com/ycruvevz.

   3.     For a chronological list of Nick’s actions regarding the local rail service please see his website here: https://www.nickherbert.com/rail-service.