MarshLink Action Group (MLAG) would like to remind readers that its annual general meeting will take place from (effectively) 6:30pm to 8.45pm on Friday, June 6 at the Tudor Room of the Mermaid Inn. This will give you the opportunity to hear from, and speak directly to, senior management of Southern Railway (operator of the Marshlink line between Ashford International and Eastbourne) and of Network Rail (who provide the infrastructure to our line).
Do come to the meeting whether you are a member or not – if you would like to become a member, membership costs £3 per annum and can be paid at the door.
The background to the meeting is the performance of Southern and Network Rail over the last year or so following issues with equipment failure, inadequate staff levels, infrastructure issues and such-like. But we need to be looking forward and for you to ask questions.
On a separate but related issue, MLAG announced its AGM in an article in Rye News two weeks ago – see Time to talk about the trains | Rye News Following that article a comment was raised asking “What does MLAG stand for?” and I would like to respond, briefly, to that question. Firstly, MLAG stands for the MarshLink Action Group – the Marshlink is the name given to the line between Ashford and Hastings and your committee does its best to take action by representing the views of local people and businesses.
In another sense, MLAG stands for a much-improved rail service along the Marshlink line and connectivity onto other rail services: our website, www.mlag.org.uk, will give you information about our history and objectives. In summary, MLAG was established in 2003 with a particular objective of replacing the “Thumper” trains which operated on the line and needed replacing (there is some similarity here to one of our current objectives): our wider objectives stated on our website are to improve the line including double-tracking; electrification of the line; and two trains per hour in each direction. And you may note a reference to these objectives in our logo. But our objectives are much wider and more specific and you may well hear about those at the MLAG AGM on June 6. We look forward to seeing you then.
Image Credits: Chris Lawson .