Newhaven Marine. Closure consultation, January 2020.

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From The Argus

Newhaven Marine 'ghost station' closure confirmed

A RAILWAY station will formally close next month, 14 years after it was last served by a passenger train.

The end of the line for Newhaven Marine was confirmed by the Office of Rail and Road, which ratified the Department for Transport?s decision to close the station following a public consultation.

Later in article ...

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) said the closure of Newhaven Marine on October 22 will allow the track to be used as sidings and for freight trains.

Former transport minister and ex-Lewes MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Norman Baker described the consultation as a ?joke?.

Speaking to The Argus newspaper earlier this year, he said: ?The station was demolished years ago and now they?re holding a consultation to close it.

Reminding members from 3 months ago - Network Rail and their chums had completed the removal of the station three months ago and were crowing about it, even though they had not gone through the proper closure consultation and procedures.

Network Rail has completed extensive modification and refurbishment to Newhaven Marine Station, developing rail freight capacity and supporting a low-carbon economy by removing the need for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on local roads.

Yes, indeed, Norman Baker - the consultation was a joke because of what could be seen as arrogant, pre-emptive, above-the-law actions of Network Rail and their chums to get rid of a station that (admittedly) had little use left.    The law / rules on station closure have a long series of checks and balances - it may be that they need to be revised, but until they are, Network Rail should not flout the law.  For Newhaven Marine, the closure was probably correct - but what if Network Rail were to decide that [xxxxx] was in their view a station that had little passenger use left - or perhaps was a bit of a nuisance.


Edit to add ...  from the Law Gazette

Lord chancellor Robert Buckland has broken his silence on the government?s threat to rewrite parts of the EU^» (European Union - about) withdrawal agreement unilaterally ? saying he will quit if he sees the rule of law being broken 'in a way that I find unacceptable'.

I find that deeply concerning as it seems to show the same arrogance and disregard of the law by those in the positions of power and authority.  It's not as if we're just looking at minor issues

[JayMac]

Network Rail and the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), and their predecessors, have form in showing a casual disregard for the Railways Act 2005 and its predecessor legislation.

Watford Branch
Weymouth Tramway
Newhaven Marine
GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) to Kenny O via Mitre Bridge Junction
Pilning
Laverstock North to Laverstock South

All closed, or rendered practically unusable, to passenger services, by stealth or fudge.

[TaplowGreen]

Network Rail and the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), and their predecessors, have form in showing a casual disregard for the Railways Act 2005 and its predecessor legislation.

Watford Branch
Weymouth Tramway
Newhaven Marine
GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) to Kenny O via Mitre Bridge Junction
Pilning
Laverstock North to Laverstock South

All closed, or rendered practically unusable, to passenger services, by stealth or fudge.

I knew leaves, ice, the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers), BBQs, hot weather and cold weather frequently render the railways unusable............but fudge? Any particular flavour?