[domeyhead]

I have always felt that no real rail enthusiast would ever stand in the way if there was a possibility of their railway being reintegrated into the national passenger (and hopefully freight)network. I won't repeat the economics of this case because we have probably all read Rail Magazine et al's pieces anyway, but is should be clear that the Wealden Line reopening team are not so much motivated by some kind of "green agenda" but by the belief that a business case can and should be made for this rail link. To infer that the campaign team have somehow overlooked details like bridges and land ownership is just plain silly. Recent articles detail all these points in some detail, and plans and solutions too. I think the greatest triumph and achievement of any rail preservation group would be the knowledge that they safeguarded a route long enough to help ensure that it once again fulfilled its original purpose. This particularly and also applies to the Spa Valley line, not just the Lavender Line, and in truth I wish it applied to my own local line (The Mid Hants). I would like to see heritage coexist with normal through commuter and diversonary running. The SELRAP team in the north have shown how these things can be done, and if 35 miles of the Waverley Route can be reopened after all these years then there should be an even stronger case in the South East!