Time is right to sort out ‘critical’ Croydon rail stations, says MP

There are fresh calls to overhaul two major Croydon rail stations as part of a review into the ‘critical’ Brighton Main Line (BML) services.

MPs say ‘urgent’ changes are needed to eliminate delays on the rail line and increase capacity at East Croydon and Norwood Junction stations.

The call follows a debate in Parliament on March 31, which brought renewed attention to the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS), designed to alleviate the ongoing issues plaguing the BML.

The BML, a key route between London and the south coast, remains the busiest and most complex part of the UK’s rail network. East Croydon station is notorious for its lack of capacity and overcrowding despite being a key hub station used by commuters and those accessing the Gatwick Express.

Furthermore, the complex junctions north of the station, dubbed the Selhurst Triangle, have caused significant delays and cancellations for years. The Croydon bottleneck has long hindered the efficiency of the rail network, impacting both journey times and the ability to meet growing demand.

Initially proposed in 2020, the CARS project aimed to relieve the bottleneck, delivering a faster, more reliable service with improved connectivity across the coast-to-capital region. However, the scheme faced delays, partly due to COVID, changes in passenger behaviour, and funding constraints.

Natasha Irons, the Labour MP for Croydon East, and Peter Lamb, MP for Crawley, are now calling for a renewed assessment of the scheme.

During the debate, they argued that without additional capacity, efforts to improve punctuality or expand service routes would be severely limited, potentially stifling economic growth in the region.

They also highlighted the renewal of Gatwick Airport and the government’s shift towards greater public ownership of the rail network as proof that the time for a review is now.

The expansion of Gatwick Airport is expected to create 14,000 new jobs and generate £1 billion annually for the UK economy. The government has also outlined plans to increase the proportion of passengers arriving at the airport by public transport from 44 per cent to 54.

Both MPs argue that delaying the CARS scheme would hinder this growth and impact the regions between London, Crawley, and Gatwick.

Ms Irons believes the project would also help facilitate the development of the Croydon Opportunity Area, which is earmarked for 14,500 new homes and 10,500 new jobs by 2041. She added that improving East Croydon and Norwood Junction stations would provide a much-needed boost to the regional and national economy while modernising the infrastructure to meet future passenger demand.

The MP said: “The need for investment in Croydon’s rail infrastructure has not gone away. If anything, the expansion of Gatwick Airport makes addressing the capacity challenges at East Croydon station even more critical. Resuming the CARS project would increase capacity at East Croydon and provide step-free access at Norwood Junction. This is not just good for Croydon; it’s good for the entire southeast.”

In response to the calls, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Simon Lightwood said: “I regret that I am not able to comment on individual projects such as the Croydon area remodelling scheme until the spending review has concluded in June.”

Pictured top: Croydon East MP Natasha Irons (Picture: Natasha Irons)