Twelve station platforms on the overcrowded Uckfield to London Bridge line will be extended.
Stations affected are Uckfield, Buxted, Crowborough, Eridge, Ashurst, Cowden, Hever and Edenbridge Town.
On July 13 letters were sent to residents in towns along the line inviting them to find out more by means of drop-in sessions this month and next.
Sessions will be held at the Uckfield Civic Centre from 4-8pm on Wednesday, July 29 and Crowborough Leisure Centre from 4-8pm on Monday, July 27. Improvements will see platforms lengthened by anything between 56 to 115 metres.
In Uckfield the platform’s London end gains 56 metres and the London end of the Buxted platform gains 115 metres. The country end of both Crowborough platforms extends by 87 metres.
Network Rail Project Manager Craig Melhuish said: “The project allows the introduction of 10 coach trains that will reduce crowding and help meet passenger demand. New longer trains will increase capacity during the morning peak by 50 per cent. Network Rail will build the longer platforms and infrastructure and Govia Thameslink Railway will lease, refurbish and run the trains.
“By extending the platforms we will be able to run longer trains that will reduce congestion and improve the daily commute for thousands of people. Eight of the twelve platforms need to be doubled in length which is a considerable amount of work when compared with many other platforms extension projects previously delivered on the network.”
Network Rail will start setting up site compounds at some stations in August and preparations start later in the month. Permanent works will start in September at some sites and in the New Year for others. From 9.20am-4pm Monday to Friday, November 2-25, the line will close between Hurst Green and Uckfield with changes to the last trains from Monday to Thursday. From January 4-February 20 next year the line will close between Crowborough and Uckfield all day. From March 14-April 9 the line will close between Hurst Green and Uckfield again with changes to the last trains from Monday to Thursday. There will be weekend closures from Hurst Green to Uckfield at various points between August and May. Information: www.southernrailway.com/uckfieldline.
Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.
1) Make our website your homepage at {http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/|www.sussexexpress.co.uk/|www.sussexexpress.co.uk/}
2) Like our Facebook page at {https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/182122891863351|www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/|www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/}
3) Follow us on Twitter {https://twitter.com/sussex_express|@sussex_express|@sussex_express}
4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.
And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!
The Sussex Express - always the first with your local news.
Be part of it.