LETTER: Vision for 21st railway station

And Pulborough’s great culinary couple Rene and Ann Kieser provided a splendid plougman’s for attendees and choice of fine wines and beer.

The evening gave all attendees an insight into the sheer engineering feat of the Arun Valley with particular reference to high embankments, bridges and even a small tunnel across the Arun brooks area.

There is deep concern about the present state of Pulborough railway station.

The stationing of the taxi office within the station was good for obvious reasons of convenience. And the taxi office installed a cafe for benefit of passengers.

However high rents have forced out the taxi office and its attendant cafe.

Surely given the trade which the taxis brought to the station it would make for a stroke of business genius for Southern Rail to make the taxi firm an offer, namely to have the station premises rent free in return for more investment in both taxis and the cafe and get them to put tables and chairs in the wider body of the station - a sure fire win-win situation.

Also the presence of more staff and economic activity on station premises reassures lone passengers and deters vandals and other undesirables. Members of station staff at many Southern stations have made this point to me. There is also concern about the frequent closure of the booking office. And not to mention the ridiculous closure of the toilet facilities while staff are not there much to consternation of those with young kids. The presence of station staff is also necessary to help mothers carry their kids prams and buggies to the other side of the station.

It is also necessary to install a cash machine at the station and to reinstate the passing loop around the up platform for the convenience of maintenance trains.

With the right vision Pulborough station and the Arun Valley line can have a great 21st century.

But this depends on prioritising the steps suggested - rather than the ridiculous ‘listing’ of the redundant signal box and parts of the railway station.

I am sure those that built the line and those high embankments would much rather have a ‘living’, expanding, fit for purpose and user friendly Pulborough station than one stuck in ossification and decline.

The common sense steps I suggest should be enacted immediately and in the longer term a fresher and more modern station building should be considered.

John Barstow

The Fleet, Fittleworth

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