Successful Christmas engineering works in south London and Sussex

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Engineering work on the railway over Christmas and the New Year has delivered vital rail upgrades across Sussex and south London.

On the Brighton main line, work took place to improve the reliability of the vitally important stretch of railway between Croydon and Three Bridges. A set of points was refurbished at Three Bridges on Christmas Day, while two sets of points were refurbished at East Croydon and two at Norwood Junction.

Delays in this key critical section have a major knock on impact on performance across the network.

Foundation work at Gatwick Airport station on platform 5 and 6.

The upgrade of Gatwick Airport station is continuing on schedule, thanks to a major effort over the Christmas period as part of a joint project with Gatwick Airport Ltd, GTR, Coast to Capital LEP and the Department of Transport.

Over Christmas, the final span of the site access bridge across Platforms 3 to 7 was lifted in, which will allow work to continue throughout 2021.

Selsdon Road bridge works.

Strengthening works and piling continued to prepare island Platforms 3 and 4 for the arrival of a new escalator and stairs to improve accessibility around the station

Piling started for the foundations of the island Platforms 5 and 6, which will be widened and new escalators and stairs installed connecting to a brand new station concourse above, and enabling and drainage works for a new Back of House building for Gatwick Airport employees, which is due to open in 2022

Network Rail also replaced two bridge decks over four lines at Selsdon Road bridge near Croydon. Works included the installation of new ballast, sleepers and running rails.

Shaun King, Network Rail’s route director for Sussex, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has worked over the Christmas period, whether out on track, in offices or at home.

“Work to upgrade Gatwick Airport station continued its excellent progress, we installed a new bridge at Selsdon Road, completed vital maintenance and improvements in our golden corridors and responded to a landslip near Ockley, stabilising and protecting 30 metres of embankment to get the railway open again for key passengers. 

“This vital work will help us build back better and more reliable than ever before for our passengers.”

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