Brighton Road bridge near Coulsdon South station

Safety upgrade to prevent vehicle strikes for Brighton Road bridge near Coulsdon South station

From September 2025 we will install new steel protection beams at Brighton Road bridge near Coulsdon South station to reduce vehicle strikes and keep trains running smoothly.

Project timeline

Work will begin on 1 September and is expected to finish by 29 October 2025.

What work is taking place?

The Brighton Road bridge, which carries the Brighton Main Line over the A23, has been hit multiple times by large vehicles. This has caused delays and disruption to train services.

To tackle this, we will install specially designed steel protection beams and a support structure. This will absorb vehicle impacts and protect the bridge structure.

When is the work taking place and how will it affect me?

To facilitate the safe installation of the protection beam, car parking spaces will be out of use. There will be traffic management on Brighton road at certain times.

Car park closures

To safely carry out the work, parts of the Coulsdon South station car park will be closed on the following dates:

• Monday 1 September to Friday 17 October 2025: up to 14 standard parking spaces will be unavailable. The blue badge and electric vehicle charging spaces will remain available.

• Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 October 2025: the main car park will be closed while a crane is used to lift the protection beam into place.
  
  There will be no access to the main car park including to the blue badge space and electric vehicle charging spaces. Alternative blue badge spaces are available at the station building.

• Monday 20 to Friday 29 October 2025: up to 14 standard spaces will again be unavailable. The blue badge and electric vehicle charging spaces will remain available.

*Please note the premium parking bays will not be impacted by the closures.

Road closures and station access

At times, traffic management will be in place on Brighton Road to support the works:

• Night-time road closures will run Monday to Friday, 21:00 to 05:30 from 08/09/2025 to 17/10/2025
• Full weekend road closures will be in place 24/7 during Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October.

Access to Coulsdon South station will be maintained throughout:

• During midweek road closures, customers can still reach the station via a left turn before the closure point
• During weekend closures, access will be maintained. People are advised to follow signposted routes.

We will work closely with local authorities, Southern and our contractors to minimise disruption and ensure safe access for all road users and pedestrians.

Why is the work needed?

Bridge strikes are a major cause of train delays and infrastructure damage. Despite efforts like improved signage and driver education, the Brighton Road bridge continues to be hit. Installing protection beams is a proven solution that will safeguard the bridge, reduce delays, and improve reliability for thousands of daily passengers.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please visit our contact us page or telephone our 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 quoting Brighton Road Bridge.