Century on Brighton to Newhaven Part 4

In view of the entirely erroneous statements which have been circulated in regard to the proposed Kearney High Speed Railway near Brighton it is necessary to publish the facts.

1.  The Ministry of Transport have called for a section, about three quarters of a mile in length, of the KEARNEY SYSTEM for test purposes.
2. A Railway to connect Brighton with Newhaven has been in contemplation for a number of years but the hilly nature of the country to be traversed has rendered the construction of an ordinary line prohibitive as regards cost.
3. The KEARNEY SYSTEM is able to follow the contour of the ground and do dispense with the heavy and expensive earthworks which would be necessary for an ordinary railway.
4. In calling for a trial section of the KEARNEY RAILWAY the Ministry of Transport desired that it should be built in such location that when the tests were completed it could be extended in either direction and so become a portion of a permanent railway for the carriage of passengers and goods on a commercial basis.
5. The site selected on the East Sussex Estate and approved for the test line by the Brighton Corporation besides being eminently suitable for the purposes of the trial is on the direct line of the proposed railway between Brighton and Newhaven for which the KEARNEY SYSTEM is admirably suited.
6. The plan which will be immediately carried out is the building of the Test Section. This starts at a point behind the house (No 2 Rottingdean Road) occupied by Dr Nicholas and runs Eastward behind the Coastguard Cottages, across Roedean bottom and up the hill opposite to a point approximately on the top of the hill 400 get behind Roedean School. The land is owned exclusively by Brighton Corporation, who have given their consent. It is rented from the Corporation by Mr. Collins and Mr Pankhurst, both of whom have agreed to the use of their holdings for the purpose of the railway. No other persons property is touched or interfered with in any way.
7. At the completion of the tests it is intended to ask the Ministry of Transport (Light Railway Commissioners Department) for a Light Railway Order enabling the Railway tone extended to Kemp Town in the west and Newhaven in the east. The extension of this Railway will only be carried out if there is a large majority of residents in its favour.
8. When extended the Railway will not interfere with a single private house or building of any description in Kemp Town or Ovingdean. It may be necessary to move one or two cowsheds in Rottingdean but no private dwelling house will be touched. There will be no interference with any building whatsoever over the whole of the rest of the route.
9. In its completed form the Railway from Brighton to Newhaven will prove of the utmost value as a means of communication. Halts or stations will be generally at the tops of hills. No station is contemplated in Rottingdean unless large majority of the residents petition for it. No stations will be placed anywhere on the line of route where majority of the residents are against it.
10. The main object for the construction of the Test Section on the East Brighton Estate is so that it may not be wasted but shall form part of the complete scheme. This scheme when carried out will, it is most confidently felt, prove to be a boon to the districts served, and every inhabitant will benefit by the improved means of transit. It is hoped that the fares will be substantially lower than could be offered by motor buses. The speed will be much greater. The comfort will be incomparably better. Farmers on the line of route will be able to forward their produce with the utmost despatch and ease to the town's. The town's will be able to forward to the countryside goods of all descriptions at a cheaper rate with more regular and certain deliveries. In fact, from whatever point of view the proposed Railway is regarded. It will be seen to serve everybody better and quicker and more comfortably than any other means of transit.

Those who have been misled into signing a petition against the Railway on incorrect and unofficial information and who would, In the light of correct appreciation of the facts, desire to reverse their attitude, should sign the Petition in favour of the Ra and put a cross against their names to indicate the fact.

                                                 E. W. Chalmers Kearney, M. S. E., etc.,
                                                           Engineer and Managing Director,
                                                                  The Kearney High Speed Railway Co Ltd.

100 Victoria Street, London, S. W. 1.