Network Rail has been asked to look again at reopening a redundant line between Uckfield and Lewes in East Sussex‚ which could help relieve congestion on a popular railway between Brighton and London.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "I am alive to local interest in reopening this line and wider concerns about rail capacity between London and the south coast. This study will help us to understand exactly what the issues are and build upon previous work."

Railway between Uckfield and Lewes closed in 1969. If reopened it would provide a second long distance route between London and Brighton to the east of the existing rail connection. "The railway between the two cities is one of the busiest routes in the country and there is very little space available to run additional trains," said Network Rail's strategy and planning director Richard Eccles. "As the number of passengers continues to grow it is right that we look at a wide variety of options which may help provide extra capacity in future."

But a local supporter of the rail reopening Brian Hart of the 'Brighton Main Line 2' campaign group was cautious about the announcement of a new study. "We have seen so many reports about Uckfield to Lewes over the years and the most recent study in 2008 said there was no business case for a reopening.

"The most important thing is for direct services to be introduced along that route between London and Brighton and that would require a new tunnel through the South Downs."

Photo of existing trackbed between Lewes and Uckfield: Simon Carey

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