Cranleigh Train proposals warmly welcomed

7.36.18pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 17th Jun 2009

Many people have called for the restoration of the Cranleigh line

Proposals by the Association of Train Operating Companies to reinstate the Cranleigh rail link have been warmly welcomed by local Parliamentary Candidate, Sue Doughty.

The report recommends that the link is reinstated to reduce the considerable traffic problems between Cranleigh and Guildford and particularly highlighted the fact that the scheme, costing approximately £63m would have a good payback ratio of 1.7.

With the report strongly recommending that more work should be done to investigate the proposals with a view to getting the Department for Transport to take up the most cost effective proposals next year much can be done at this stage to make the plans real.

Sue said "This is the news that many local people have been seeking. For too long we have seen increasing congestion between Guildford and Cranleigh and with the opportunity for passengers to take a half hourly slow train to London, or to switch to fast transport at Guildford station this could be really good news."

Commuters from Cranleigh to Guildford could also benefit from a faster route into Guildford.

"The reality is that too many of us want to drive everywhere and that we are never going to be able to return to the days before Guildford became a congested traffic nightmare. I hope that local people will look at the proposals and provide constructive feedback. It is also essential that Dunsfold Park makes a response to the proposals, building on the extensive work which they have already undertaken to mitigate the impact of traffic should permission be given to go ahead with their plans."

Related Link:

The ATOC report Connecting Communities.