Croydon rail bottleneck plans to be re-examined
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to revisit the stalled Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS).
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated his intention to revive the stalled Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS), a project aimed at addressing the significant rail bottleneck around East Croydon and Windmill Bridge Junction. The scheme has faced major delays, impacting passengers travelling from Gatwick Airport and Brighton. Croydon East MP Natasha Irons raised the issue during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, September 2, urging a reconsideration of the project first proposed in 2020.
Transport Minister Simon Lightwood confirmed in March that the previous government had scrapped CARS in 2021 without notifying relevant parties. The scheme has not received funding in subsequent spending reviews. The original CARS upgrades were designed to increase capacity at East Croydon station, enhance accessibility at Norwood Junction, and alleviate pressure on the Brighton Main Line, which is projected to reach full capacity by 2030.
PM vows to revive stalled £2.9bn Croydon rail upgrade
Prime Minister Andy Burnham promises action on the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS) after it was scrapped by the previous government.
Croydon East MP Natasha Irons has previously asserted that resolving the rail bottleneck could generate approximately £5.1 billion in economic value over the next twenty years. She highlighted that improvements to rail infrastructure around East Croydon are essential for young people in Croydon to access potential employment and training opportunities stemming from Gatwick Airport's expansion. Without these upgrades, she warned, such opportunities could remain out of reach due to transport limitations.
Call for Re-evaluation and Phased Improvements
In August, Croydon's Executive Mayor Jason Perry called for a new assessment of the rail bottleneck, incorporating updated passenger demand and economic modelling. Mayor Perry has urged Network Rail to re-evaluate CARS, considering phased interventions that could deliver improvements sooner. He stated that the council is not seeking approval for the old scheme unchanged, but rather an update of the evidence to identify the most affordable and achievable path forward.
Croydon Council's £2m TfL funding frozen over removed cycle lane wands
Transport for London halted funds after Mayor Jason Perry removed protective barriers on London Road.
The original CARS proposal involved expanding East Croydon station from six to eight platforms, reconfiguring tracks and junctions to eliminate conflicting train movements, and supporting upgrades at Norwood Junction. This was expected to accommodate an additional four to six trains per hour and increase peak capacity by around 15%. However, the initial plan carried an estimated cost of £2.9 billion, a completion timeline exceeding a decade, and was anticipated to cause considerable disruption during its construction phase.
Mayor Perry also requested that land already secured or designated for the scheme be protected. He further called for the establishment of a joint working group involving the council, the Department for Transport, and other key stakeholders. A robust investment proposal is sought to be ready for the 2027 spending review. Mayor Perry pointed to planned investments along the Thameslink and Brighton Main Line corridor, including Gatwick Airport's Northern Runway project, as reasons to address the infrastructure constraints around Croydon.
He commented that resolving this strategic constraint could unlock jobs, housing, and private investment across the corridor, extending from the south coast through London and northwards to Bedford, Peterborough, and Cambridge.
Questions this report answers
+What is the Croydon rail bottleneck scheme?
The Croydon rail bottleneck scheme, also known as CARS, is a project designed to address congestion and improve capacity around East Croydon station and Windmill Bridge Junction. It aims to increase train frequency and reliability on key lines serving the area.
+Why was the CARS scheme scrapped?
Transport Minister Simon Lightwood confirmed that CARS was scrapped by the previous government in 2021 without informing stakeholders. It was not funded in subsequent spending reviews.
+What is the potential economic benefit of fixing the bottleneck?
Croydon East MP Natasha Irons stated that fixing the rail bottleneck could unlock approximately £5.1 billion in economic value over the next two decades. This could support job creation and investment across the wider region.
+What are the next steps for the CARS project?
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to get the scheme back on track. Croydon's Executive Mayor Jason Perry has called for a fresh assessment with updated modelling and urged Network Rail to re-evaluate the scheme with phased interventions for earlier improvements.
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