Rye’s railwaypartnership issteaming along

Chairman Kevin Boorman, said: “This was an excellent meeting, attended by senior officers from Network Rail, Southern railway, East Sussex and Kent County Councils, and members of the public.

“Andrew Wood, senior development manager from Network Rail, updated the meeting on Marshlink electrification, very topical following a visit of a ‘Javelin’ train to Hastings.

“Mark Epsom, the area manager for Southern, talked about the new franchise arrangements later his year, the London Bridge rebuilding project, and Southern’s improvements to Marshlink stations.

“Local volunteer Keith Buckland, from Rye, explained what motivated him and his wife Kathy to volunteer at the station.

“It was great to hear such a range of presentations, from the strategic improvements being looked at for the line to the local volunteers who really put ‘community’ into the partnership.

“None of this could happen without the fantastic efforts of Kevin Barry, the local line officer based at Rye station, who has only been doing the job for eight months, and is only part-time :- yet has already done so much. His achievements include the art now on display at Rye station, plants provided by Friary Gardeners at Ham Street and Rye, great partnerships with Rye Studio School and the School Creative Centre, and so much more.

“It’s been an exciting few months for partnership, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the next few months bring.”