The move follows a drop in the number of people commuting since the coronavirus pandemic, with more people working from home.
The lower charges are being trialled for a trial period until the middle of next month, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) said.
Brighton station already has two, four and six-hour tariffs but now evening visitors can park from 6pm to 3.59am for £6, compared with a daytime rate of £8.90 for six hours.
GTR – the operator of Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services – has chosen Lewes and Eastbourne stations for the trial along with Brighton.
The company said: “Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has introduced a trial of new short-stay parking rates at three Sussex stations.
“The operator of Southern and Thameslink train services hopes the new flexible charges will prove popular among town centre visitors.
“The three stations in the pilot scheme are Brighton, Eastbourne and Lewes. These were chosen because the town and city centres have daytime and evening attractions that would benefit from more good value convenient parking for flexible durations.
“At Eastbourne and Lewes, new one-hour, two-hour and evening parking rates are being offered for a trial period until mid-February.
“Until the trial, only full-day parking had been available at these stations, historically to ensure the necessary spaces for commuters.
“However, most users have driven away by the early evening. Also, since the covid pandemic, demand during the day has remained lower on most weekdays.
“For the pilot, instead of Eastbourne’s full weekday tariff of £6.60, customers can choose to stay for up to an hour for £1.50 or two hours for £3 or from 6pm until 3.59am for only £2.
“At Lewes visitors can stay for an hour for £2, up to two hours for £4 or the whole evening from 6pm until 3.59am for just £1.50 – huge savings on the full weekday charge of £7.80.”
GTR commercial director David Gornall said: “We hope these more flexible choices prove popular as we expect the new charging structure to be a win-win – good value and convenience for the local community and more revenue for the railway.
“If people in Brighton, Eastbourne and Lewes like the new tariffs, we’ll make them permanent and look to extend them across more of our stations.”
“Good value and convenience for the local community”!!! The local council will be horrified. They’ve been taking the opposite approach for years
As Brighton council is incapable of keeping up with the demand for parking permits I inquired about parking at the station £98 per week.
Might there also be a reduction in the parking fees in general.
Wow finally some commercial sense from a commercial company. Shame Brighton council don’t do the same with their car parks