The project includes constructing additional flyovers at Selhurst junction north of Croydon where trains from London Victoria and London Bridge converge and then separate to serve East Croydon and Brighton as well as West Croydon. A fourth island platform with two tracks would also be constructed at East Croydon together with new concourse areas to increase throughput at the station.

A study conducted last year by Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Department for Transport (DfT) estimated the cost of the project and associated works on the Brighton main line at between £1.2bn and £1.5bn.

NR plans to conduct the public consultation in 2019 with a view to obtaining a Transport & Works Act from parliament in 2020 to allow the works to take place.

“Redeveloping the railway through Croydon is the only practical way to further improve the reliability of services on the Brighton main line and transform journeys between London, Gatwick Airport and the south coast,” says Mr John Halsall, NR’s southeast route managing director. “The Croydon bottleneck is now the single biggest cause of congestion and delays to passengers on this vital rail artery and means that the railway is now effectively full at the busiest times of day.”

Britain Selhurst junction portrait

Existing track layout at Selhurst junction to the north of Croydon.