Local MPs, Amber Rudd and Huw Merriman, have welcomed the news that the 5-day Southern Rail strike will end early to enable management and unions to restart talks to reach an agreement. Amber and Huw have spoken at length to both sides this week and urged them to meet to resolve their differences in order to allow services to resume for the Eastbourne Airborne show.

Amber said "In speaking to the unions and management, Huw and I have stressed that a resolution must be reached in order to resume services for our constituents. We hope that the union will consider that the guarantee given on jobs, pay and a second member of staff on board our trains will be enough to reassure union members that the modernisation of local rail services is good for passengers and staff alike."

Huw said "As Amber has demonstrated with her campaign for High Speed Rail, we badly need better rail services to connect us to London and deliver economic growth. We have made it clear to both sides that they are jeopardising our plans for modernisation and economic growth and pressed them to come to an immediate agreement for our constituents. It is now vital that both sides reach a conclusion and put their differences behind them."