The MarshLink Action Group Annual General Meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday May 3 at Rye Town Hall (to be followed at 7:15pm by presentations). But this year there will be a supplemental (Part 2) meeting (subject to confirmation) at 7:15pm on Thursday June 15, also at Rye Town Hall.
The intention had been for there to be presentations, immediately following the AGM, by Southern Railways (to present their current and proposed comments on the MarshLink service) and then Network Rail (to present on current issues related to the proposed Javelin service from London St Pancras to Ashford and then on to Rye, Hastings and Bexhill (perhaps also Eastbourne).
However, because of the Government’s announcement of an election on June 8, Network Rail being, effectively, a division of the Department for Transport, are in purdah and unable to present to the public.Consequently the Network Rail presentation has had to be deferred until after the election and now agreed for June 15.
Since the response date to the Kent Route Study is June 30, that doesn’t give long for interested parties to respond after this presentation. We should remind you that the Department for Transport’s discussion document on the Kent Route Study is at https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/long-term-planning/
But MLAG trusts that members have enough issues to raise with Southern Railways to fill the AGM time available. This year we have two significant and relevant Southern staff to present their views and listen (and we trust, respond) to our own views. The presenters are:
- Stuart Meek, General Manager (Operations); and
- Martin Grier (Head of Operations)
We look forward to seeing you at the MLAG AGM (Part 1 and Part 2).
Stuart Harland
Chairman, MLAG
Photo: John Minter
