Newhaven Marine
The fabulous Jolyon Jenkins, the producer at Radio Four who is doing the show about ghost trains, sent me this excerpt from Hansard today…
3 Feb 2009 : Column 1135W
Newhaven Marine Railway Station
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the last passenger train departed Newhaven Harbour Marine station. [249334]
Paul Clark: A passenger train service is still operating from Newhaven Marine station, but due to safety concerns at the station information is available advising passengers that they may call Southern’s customer service team to arrange a replacement taxi or they may wish to walk the three minutes north to Newhaven Harbour station to catch alternative services.
23 Feb 2009 : Column 493W
Newhaven Marine Railway Station
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2009, Official Report, column 1135W, on Newhaven Marine railway station, on what date the passenger train service was last delivered by rail. [257002]
Paul Clark: Further to my answer of 3 February 2009, Official Report, column 1135W Newhaven Marine station has not been safe for passengers since August 2006.
19 May 2009 : Column 1263W
Newhaven Marine Railway Station
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason a closure process for Newhaven Marine station has not been initiated. [276325]
19 May 2009 : Column 1268W
Paul Clark: Newhaven Marine station is owned by Network Rail and as such it is up to them to review options for the future of the station. If Network Rail were to conclude they wished to close this station they would be required to follow the procedures under the Railways Act 2005, including a full consultation.
Needless to say, I’m arguing that we should take this replacement taxi for the show; though I admit it might be a bit anti-climactic…
Get better soon; and take the Newhaven Railway Oddyssey!
I was going to go along last weekend and take some snaps of all of Newhaven’s stations, including those either side of town, make a photo journal of the journey. But I was ill. So I didn’t. Maybe another time. Hope all is well, Ian.
x Graham
I must say that I never knew it was there all the years I lived and worked in Newhaven, but that’s not really the point. It’s the institutional disingenuousness; they close stations and remove services by stealth, without telling passengers that they are doing so. There are proceedures which need to be followed, and although it’s highly unlikely that many Newhaven residents would object to the closing of Newhaven’s third railway station, and also highly unlikely that any foot passengers getting off the boat are unable to walk the three minutes to the Harbour station, Railtrack are a publicly owned body, who need to be publicly accountable for what they do. Newhaven Marine today, Heart of Wales line tomorrow…
One major problem with Newhaven Marine Sation being that very few locals know it exists and even if they did they would probably have no need whatsoever to use it.
And dear old Norman, although he has done some very good work regarding the murder of Dr David Kelly, which will forever be one more stain upon Blair and his legacy, is the eternal Local Politician.
I was once at a meeting with him when he was the leader of the District Council. A discussion developed between Norm and the then Town Centre Manager regarding which of them was to be credited in the minutes with having ordered the felling of a very nice Eucalyptus tree in order to clear the field of vision of a CCTV camera which could only see the by then deserted stretch of Chapel Street below the precinct. A fierce debate between the two claimed at least half an hour of our precious time, and Norm prevailed.
Now we have a wrecked economy, a totally corrupted parliament, there’s nowt but crap on the telly and Norm’s worried about Newhaven Marine Railway Station (deceased).
Local democracy in action. It makes you want to soil your pants.
No, I don’t think so… anyway, we can have tea with my Mum after. That’ll save expenses.
As a licence payer, I think it more appropriate that you take the replacement walking option. Perhaps what is saved from your fare could be put towards saving 6 Music?