MP calls for direct London train to be restored

Josh Babarinde asked the government to back his campaign

An MP is pushing for a direct train link between Eastbourne and London Bridge to be restored.

In the House of Commons, Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde said: "The Rapid Transition Alliance tells us that we can improve the quality of our roads if we support more people to use rail as a form of public transport.

"That's one of the reasons why I am campaigning to restore the direct train."

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which runs Southern services from Eastbourne, said it shared the MP's aspirations and was "actively developing proposals" to introduce another direct link between Eastbourne and London.

The Liberal Democrat MP, who asked the government to back his campaign, said the train was discontinued during the pandemic.

He highlighted economic growth for the town as one of the reasons for his call in the House of Commons.

GTR said it was still recovering from the pandemic, but in 2023 it put a new timetable in place that "gave people living in Eastbourne and along the entire east coastway route better services, encouraging many more back to the railway".

There is an East Sussex County Council consultation until Monday that is looking at changes to key railway routes in the region.

This includes faster services between Brighton and Hastings, reopening a line between Uckfield and Lewes, and direct services between London and both Seaford and Newhaven.