Independent watchdog Transport Focus want to hear your views on the Brighton mainline improvement works

As the rail Brighton Main Line rail closures continue on, Transport Focus is keen to hear from users and partners on how they are doing. To get involved, click on this link which will take you to their short questionnaire. https://brightonmainlinesurvey.online-host.solutions/ASP/P012082/5.asp

Over the past two weeks the following improvements have been delivered:

• Haywards Heath Station – installation of conductor rail along the Ouse Valley area and signal changes completed

• Haywards Heath to Keymer Junction – signal head changes and signalling installation

• Keymer Junction to Plumpton – signal head changes completed

• Clayton Tunnel – track renewal 

• Patcham to Preston Park – signalling installation

• Streat Green  (Plumpton Racecourse) – Underbridge renewed

• Three Bridges to Balcombe Tunnel Junction – signal head changes

• Lewes to Newhaven – pre-testing ahead of the major work

• Cooksbridge – re-railing completed. 

To take part, please fill in this short survey by clicking on the link:
https://brightonmainlinesurvey.online-host.solutions/ASP/P012082/5.asp

Please remember the November weekend line closures on Saturday, 03 November, Saturday, 10 November and Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November. 
 
See BrightonMainLine.co.uk for the latest news on the project and full calendar of closures.

Consultation announced on ‘transformational’ plan to remove Britain’s worst railway bottleneck and provide a step-change in reliability

People across the south east of England will be able to have their say on proposals for a major railway upgrade to improve punctuality, speed up journey times and enable more trains to run on one of the country’s busiest main lines.

To find out more about the proposals, and to respond, click here.

GTR and Network Rail launch site to support business during line closures

With a calendar of line closures for the Brighton line already begun, rail bosses have launched an online toolkit to support businesses during the closures. With links to information, posters and advice to keep your workforce in the know, it’s the go-to site to help keep you open for business during the works.

To find out more visit https://brightonmainline.co.uk/information-for-business/

The Brighton line will be closed on the following dates:

https://brightonmainline.co.uk/information-for-business/

Network Rail Re-Think Week Long Brighton Line Closure in October 2018

After extensive consultation with passengers Network Rail have now removed a week of the most disruptive elements of their planned work in October 2018.  Previously no trains would have been able to use the Brighton line during one week of the October half term.

The work will now be carried out using just one nine-day closure from 16–24 February 2019, with supporting weekend closures from September 2018 to May 2019 remaining as planned.   In a statement Network Rail said, "The weekday closures have been carefully planned for the February school half-term (16-24 February), when passenger numbers are lower and some people may be able to be more flexible with their travel plans or take holiday."
 
The planned dates are:

 

The programme of works will involve:
 
• Stemming leaks into the tunnels and improving drainage
• Upgrading or replacing the third rail power system and signalling
• Replacing track and sets of points, which enable trains to switch between tracks
• Replacing fencing and improving security to deter trespassers.
 
It will improve reliability on the Brighton Main Line significantly, reducing delays for passengers travelling between London and the south coast.
 
 

Planned closures of the Brighton Mainline in October 2018 and February 2019

Network Rail had agreed with Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services, to close the lines between Three Bridges and Brighton and Three Bridges and Lewes for two nine-day periods coinciding with the October 2018 and February 2019 school half-terms, in addition to a number of weekend closures.

The improvement work – part of a £300m government-funded improvement programme to boost reliability for passengers on the Brighton Main Line and other key routes in the South East – will now be carried out in just one nine-day closure from 16-24 February 2019, subject to the rail industry’s usual assurance reviews. The supporting 15 weekend closures between September 2018 and May 2019 will go ahead unchanged. Some elements of the work as originally planned will now be deferred until the next five-year funding period, starting in April 2019.

Network Rail has taken the decision to revise the main body of work in consultation with the Department for Transport and Govia Thameslink Railway. Passengers now have more time to plan ahead before the weekday closures in February next year, while allowing the rail industry to focus its immediate efforts on embedding the interim timetable from this Sunday, 15 July and delivering a more dependable service.

During the line closures, no trains will run between Three Bridges and Brighton or between Three Bridges and Lewes. Rail replacement buses will be in operation, as well as diverted train service between London and Brighton via Littlehampton. Passengers should allow considerably more time for their journeys during these periods. While we understand these revisions to the plan will incur disruption to stakeholders and customers, we believe it will enable sufficient time to work with our partners, GTR, to deliver a robust alternative travel plan and ticketing arrangements. The planned dates are outlined below:

The programme of works will involve:

• Stemming leaks into the tunnels and improving drainage
• Upgrading or replacing the third rail power system and signalling
• Replacing track and sets of points, which enable trains to switch between tracks
• Replacing fencing and improving security to deter trespassers.

It will improve reliability on the Brighton Mainline significantly reducing delays for passengers travelling between London and the south coast.

We look forward to continued engagement with you to ensure that your business, employees and customers can plan ahead. We remain committed to making you fully aware of the impact on journeys and alternative transport arrangements as they are confirmed to us.