Gatwick rail line to reopen after upgrades

The closure of the North Downs Line between Guildford and Reigate ends on Saturday

A railway line between Surrey and Gatwick Airport is set to reopen after two weeks of upgrades to signalling and level crossings.

Network Rail's closure of the North Downs Line between Guildford and Reigate began on 14 September and ends this Saturday.

Four level crossings have been upgraded at Chilworth, Tangley, Brook and Burrows Lane, as well as 16 signals along the stretch of railway between Shalford and Gomshall.

Rail replacement buses ran between Guildford and Gatwick Airport during the closure.

Gabriel Azevedo, senior project manager working on North Downs Line, said the level crossings were "four of the least safe in the southern region".

All four crossings have had new signalling installed and will feed back to Guildford area signalling centre, Network Rail said.

Brook and Burrows Lane level crossings have been fitted with radars that will scan the crossing before a train approaches, only lowering the barriers once all vehicles are clear.

While Chilworth and Tangley level crossings have new CCTV and be monitored by a signaller, who will lower the barriers when it is safe.

The Burrows and Brook level crossings have new barriers installed to cover the full width of the road, rather than the half currently covered.

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