The Strategic Rail Authority told the Government it would cost £154million to electrify Ashford-Hastings and Hurst Green-Uckfield.

Many rail campaigners were stunned that the schemes could be axed and by the figures quoted by the SRA.

Now a leading firm of engineers says the work could be done for £27million - a fifth of the figure suggested by the SRA.

The £27million estimate came less than two years ago from Brecknell, Willis and Co which had priced the job for British Rail in 1993 at £23million.

The firm has confirmed the figures to Wendy Toms who chairs the Rail Passengers Committee for Southern England.

Chief Engineer David Hartland says he is 'incensed' that the SRA has given the cost as £154million.

Mr Hartland said the cost of equipment had steadily fallen since 1993 while the cost of contracting had risen slightly.

The Government announced in July that the SRA's figure meant there was no case for going ahead with the schemes, at least for the next five years. It is amazing that the Government can be taken in by such misleading information when it claims to be prudent in its finances.

Ms Toms says the SRA has so far declined to give any details of its calculations, saying that no useful purpose would be served by doing so.

Ms Toms says a substitute proposal for new diesel trains is not equivalent to electrification, because through diesels to London would not be practicable. She also says at least 1,000 passengers a day presently drive from Uckfield to other railheads.

Proposals to electrify the lines were included in the Connex and Govia bids for the South Central franchise, but this was when the award was expected to be for a minimum of 15 years. Govia was given only a seven-year contract.

The RPC is also calling on SRA chairman Richard Bowker to reconsider the costs and benefits of the two schemes.

These two schemes would mean a properly joined up railway in Kent and Sussex, said Ms Toms. My committee would like the Government to order an independent inquiry. If costs are not brought under control, passengers won't get many of the improvements to train services that they have been promised.

Connex had also agreed to reopen the line from Uckfield-Lewes which would have opened up a third main line to the Sussex coast.

The mystery of the 500% inflation has been featured in the October-November issue of Keeping Track Bulletin.

More information about the reopening campaign at http://home.clara.net/wealdenline