More reliable Brighton mainline promised after upgrade completed

Brighton commuters are being promised a more reliable service following an upgrade of the line between Redhill and Gatwick.

Engineering works have been ongoing for almost a month – resulting in dangerous overcrowding at Redhill one weekend when not enough rail replacement buses were available.

But Network Rail said today that the works are now complete, and the improved track, power supply and signalling should make delays less likely on the Brighton mainline.

Steve Kilby, programme manager, Network Rail, said: “The last major upgrade on this stretch of the Brighton Main Line took place in 1983, so the assets were becoming more and more unreliable, leading to delays for passengers.

“The work we’ve completed over these past weeks will keep hundreds of trains and thousands of people moving for decades to come.

“I’d really like to thank passengers for their patience while we completed this work and also our staff who worked in some incredibly challenging weather conditions to get the job done.”

The work was a key element of the Brighton Main Line Improvement Project which will see major work to renew, replace and upgrade the railway over the next 12 months. Further work in the Gatwick area will take place over the early May bank holiday (5-7 May), while a major upgrade of the southern end of the Brighton Main Line between Three Bridges and Brighton is planned for the October 2018 and February 2019 half terms.