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Gregory Barker: The Minister rightly talks about encouraging passengers to use the train service, on which I agree. Why, then, has the SRA told me that it is precluded, when making its assumptions on future train use, from taking advantage of any forecast of increased growth? It is not allowed to take into account the planned homes that are to be built—nearly 2,000, thanks to the Minister's link road—or the additional hundreds of thousands of tourists who will come into the area to visit the De La Warr. The only figures that it is using in its financial model are historic figures, which incorporate a period when the De La Warr was closed.

Charlotte Atkins: On that detailed point, the best thing that I can do is write to the hon. Gentleman, which I am happy to do.

The SRA aims to publish the final route utilisation strategy for the Brighton main line next spring, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will feed in both his comments and those of his constituents before that time.

Question put and agreed to.       Adjourned accordingly at sixteen minutes to Eight o'clock.
 
15 Dec 2004 : Column 1647
 

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