Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert has welcomed news from Govia Thameslink Railways (GTR) that they will restore a peak-time rail service between Hassocks and Clapham Junction.

The journey to Clapham Junction provides a connection from the Brighton Mainline to other parts of London and cities in the south and south-west of the country. Clapham Junction is the UK’s busiest station for interchanges between services.

The direct service was dropped from the May 2018 timetable shake up, upsetting many commuters who relied on the route and extending by as much as 40 minutes.

Mr Herbert had pressed hard for the restoration of peak-time services between Hassocks and Clapham Junction, raising the issue in Parliament and directly with the Transport Secretary and the Rail Minister, as well as with GTR. The Hassocks Rail Group also lobbied for changes, and at the end of last year GTR agreed to review the issue.

Today (Tuesday 26 February), GTR has confirmed that, from the date of the timetable change on Monday 20 May 2019, a direct Southern service will be reinstated between Hassocks and Clapham Junction at 07:10 in the morning peak time, returning at 17:24 from London Victoria.

Patrick Verwer, CEO of GTR, said: “We are happy to work on identifying improvements with local stakeholders wherever possible, so we are really pleased we’ve been able to make progress on this key concern raised at Hassocks.”

Catherine Cassidy, Chair of the Hassocks Rail User Group, said: "It is very good news that the direct Hassocks to/from Clapham Junction peak service is being reinstated. When this peak service was removed in May 2018 the effect on commuters from Hassocks who used this service was very disruptive and had a serious adverse impact on their working and personal lives.

“Working with the local commuters affected, and supported by our MP Nick Herbert, the Hassocks Rail Group has been in regular dialogue with GTR. We hope this will lead to further direct Clapham Junction peak services being reinstated but are extremely pleased that GTR have listened and reinstated a direct service from May.”

Mr Herbert said: “I am very pleased that GTR listened to our concerns and that a peak-time direct service to Clapham Junction will be restored for Hassocks commuters.

“I will continue to work with the Hassocks Rail Group and in Parliament to represent the concerns of my commuting constituents and press for improvements to the service.”

Mr Herbert will meet bosses of GTR and Network Rail on Wednesday (27 February) to discuss local rail issues.

ENDS

Notes

1. To read Nick’s letter to Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport (June 2018) see https://tinyurl.com/y9qvrggm.

2. To read Nick’s news ‘MP welcomes consultation on Hassocks to Clapham Junction trains’ see https://www.nickherbert.com/news/2018/12/5/mp-welcomes-consultation-on-hassocks-to-clapham-junction-trains.

3. To read all of Nick’s news about rail, see https://www.nickherbert.com/rail-service.

MP welcomes return of Hassocks to Clapham Junction train route