Gatwick Diamond Business (gdb) and Invest in the Gatwick Diamond welcome the publication of the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS) report, A Gateway to Gatwick and Beyond, which calls for renewed investment in rail infrastructure around East Croydon to support Gatwick Airport’s expansion and unlock economic opportunities across the wider South East.
The report sets out the case for a new Gateway to Gatwick scheme, based on the original CARS, to address capacity and reliability problems on the Brighton Main Line. It identifies the Croydon bottleneck as a constraint on regional connectivity, with 67% of trains at East Croydon currently experiencing delays or cancellations. The report estimates that addressing these infrastructure issues could generate £5.1 billion in Gross Value Added over 20 years and support 10,500 permanent jobs.
For businesses across the Gatwick Diamond, reliable transport infrastructure is fundamental to economic performance. Improved rail capacity would strengthen connections between businesses, employees, customers and suppliers, while helping organisations access a wider workforce.
The report estimates that a new scheme could save commuters 230,000 hours annually, deliver an estimated £443 million boost during the construction phase and support the development of up to 14,500 new homes. Its proposals include expanding East Croydon station from six to eight platforms, introducing grade-separated rail junctions to reduce conflicting train movements and improving station accessibility. These measures would benefit passengers travelling along the Brighton Main Line, including those connecting with Gatwick Airport, London and the South Coast and up to Cambridge.
The proposed improvements would also support wider investment and development opportunities across the Gatwick Diamond. Better transport connections could help businesses recruit and retain employees, increase access to commercial markets and strengthen links between established business centres and emerging employment locations. With Gatwick’s Northern Runway expansion representing a £2.2 billion investment, the report argues that investment in the surrounding rail network is necessary to support the airport’s target of 54% passenger rail use and ensure that increased economic activity benefits the wider region.
Brett North, Executive Director, gdb, said: “This is about looking at the Gatwick Diamond as one connected economic area rather than a collection of individual towns and business locations. Whether you are an established employer, a growing SME or an investor looking at opportunities in the South East, connectivity matters. Businesses need to be able to move people, access skills and operate efficiently. We have an opportunity to make sure that investment in Croydon delivers benefits throughout the region, and we would encourage the government and Network Rail to work with local authorities, businesses and key stakeholders to develop a funded and deliverable solution.”
gdb and Invest in the Gatwick Diamond are supporting the report’s call for the government to re-engage with the proposals and identify a funding and delivery programme for a new Gateway to Gatwick scheme. Investment in the Brighton Main Line and East Croydon infrastructure would help connect national infrastructure ambitions with the needs of the regional business community, supporting long-term economic growth, employment and investment across the Gatwick Diamond.
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