The Bluebell Railway has left the starting blocks with the two-mile western extension that will link it with the London-Brighton main line at Haywards Heath, thereby realising its 60-year ambition to become a through route.

Two public consultation sessions were held at Ardingly on September 9/10, to set out the proposals, which have been submitted to Mid-Sussex District Council.

They entail reinstalling the missing link from Horsted Keynes to the operational Network Rail-owned branch from Copyhold Junction to Hanson Aggregates (Ardingly).

It is hoped to gain approval early in 2023 to proceed to the next stage - a request to the Government for a Transport & Works Act Order, which will allow construction to begin.

However, no price estimate has so far been published, and there has been no explanation of where the many millions will come from. Recruiting a Parliamentary agent alone could cost around £500,000.

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