£15m spent on Brighton main line upgrade

DURING a nine-day closure from February 19-27 Network Rail engineering teams have battled through winter storms to complete upgrade work on the Brighton main line, between Three Bridges and the resort.

The massive project included rebuilding of Copyhold Junction, as well as upgrading the track at Burgess Hill and through Clayton tunnel – all of which will help improve reliability.

At Hassocks, 4500 tonnes of earth were removed from the railway embankment and 24 concrete sections lifted into place to create a new underpass that will give people safe access under the railway. The underpass replaces the old Woodside foot crossing which closed in summer 2021.

Approximately 500m of reinforced protective walls and more than 1000 soil nails were used to stabilise around 1km of embankment at Haywards Heath, Balcombe and Hassocks, and a cutting at Lewes.

Drainage repairs were undertaken in Balcombe tunnel to stop flooding and water build up, which has damaged the track and delayed trains in the tunnel since its construction in the 1840s. Brickwork was repaired to reduce leaks and prevent bricks falling on trains.

Further progress has been made installing a fibre optic cable which when active, will offer passengers and residents faster internet and improved mobile connectivity. The final stages of the upgrade are due for completion on April 3.