Unblocking the Croydon bottleneck - public consultation
Network Rail are developing major proposals to upgrade the Brighton Main Line – one of the most congested routes in the country – to provide more reliable, faster and more frequent services on the line and its branches.
Key to the upgrade are proposals to remove the most challenging bottleneck on Britain’s railway network at the ‘Selhurst triangle’ and East Croydon station as part of proposals for the East Croydon to Selhurst Junction Capacity Enhancement Scheme.
To check out the plans, the Brighton consultation will be on:
Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 December 2018 - The Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YD, 4.00-8.00pm. �
The proposals
To unblock the Croydon bottleneck and provide more reliable, more frequent and faster services we are developing proposals to provide:
An expanded and enhanced East Croydon station
A rebuilt station with two additional platforms, a larger concourse with improved facilities for passengers and better connections with the town centre and other transport links, supporting the ongoing regeneration of central Croydon. These new station works would also be designed to allow for new offices and homes to be built above the new station in the future.
‘Selhurst triangle’ remodelling
We would improve track layouts north of East Croydon station and remodel the junctions at the ‘Selhurst triangle’, by removing the existing junctions and building new flyovers and dive-unders.
Lower Addiscombe Road/Windmill Bridge reconstruction
To remodel ‘Selhurst triangle’ junctions and provide more platforms at East Croydon station we would need to expand the railway from five to seven tracks north of East Croydon station. This would require the current bridge over the railway to be rebuilt to provide space for the two additional tracks.
Other proposed work
Our proposals for the ‘Selhurst triangle’ and East Croydon station (East Croydon to Selhurst Junction Capacity Enhancement Scheme) would support planned works. This includes works at Norwood Junction station to reconfigure the tracks to enable more trains to run, increase station capacity and provide step-free access to all platforms at the station.
Please note that we are not consulting on planned works to the existing railway. These works are within the railway boundary and will be carried out under existing permitted development rights.
What are the benefits?
More reliable journeys
By improving track layouts, remodelling the ‘Selhurst triangle’ and constructing two new tracks and two new platforms at East Croydon station, we would remove the bottleneck which causes delays and disruption, improving the punctuality of services.
Faster journeys
More tracks and remodelled junctions would also mean we would be able to speed up some services through the area.
More services
Once we deliver our proposals to unblock the Croydon bottleneck to improve the reliability of existing services, we would then be able work with train operators to consider running more trains.
A boost to the regional and national economy
As the main route connecting the capital with Gatwick Airport and the south coast improving the Brighton Main Line will provide a significant boost to the regional and national economy.
An expanded and enhanced East Croydon station
We would increase concourse space, provide new entrances and transform passenger facilities. The work would allow above the station to be developed in the future.
Benefits of our wider plans
While we are not consulting on our plans for Norwood Junction station, as these proposed works are within the railway boundary, we would deliver more train and passenger capacity and step-free access to all platforms at the station as part of our wider plans.
Transport & Works Act Order (TWAO)
Our proposals for removing the Croydon bottleneck as part of the East Croydon to Selhurst Junction Capacity Enhancement Scheme requires work to take place outside the railway boundary.
Where we are proposing to use land or build outside the railway boundary, we must prepare an application for a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) from the Secretary of State for Transport. If permission is given we would have the necessary powers to undertake the work.
We are now consulting with the public, stakeholders and the wider rail industry and the feedback will help inform our proposals. We will then seek permission to deliver our proposals through a TWAO application.
Work taking place within the railway boundary, including works at Norwood Junction station, would be constructed by Network Rail under our permitted development rights.
Contact us
For more information on the proposals you can e-mail at CARS@networkrail.co.uk
You can also call Network Rail’s National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or contact us @NetworkRailSE