From Saturday 7 February until mid-April, there will be no footbridge available at Hampden Park station. This is while our partners at Network Rail refurbish it, to ensure the bridge remains safe and attractive for years to come.
Removal of footbridge
Over the weekend of 7/8 February, the bridge span that runs over the railway tracks will be removed by crane.
To facilitate this, on Sunday 8 February no trains will run through the station, with replacement buses running between Polegate, Eastbourne and Hastings. More information on this closure can be found on our planned works calendar.
The footbridge will be taken away by road so that the specialist refurbishment can be carried out safely, well away from the area.
While the bridge is removed so that it can be refurbished off-site, there will be no footbridge available within the station to get between the platforms.
Catching a train from Hampden Park
Because you will not be able to use the footbridge within the station, you will need to enter the station from the correct side to catch your train.
- For trains towards Lewes / Brighton / London / Hastings / Ore / Ashford International: please enter platform 1 via the main entrance on Station Approach.
- For trains towards Eastbourne: please enter platform 2 via the footpath leading from Mountfield Road, next to the level crossing (or Brampton Road)
Crossing between the platforms
To cross between the two platforms at the station, you will need to use an alternative walking route, at street level, via the nearby level crossing on Brassey Avenue/Mountfield Avenue and Station Approach. This involves a walk of approximately 330m.
Signs will be in place to show you the alternative walking route.
The map below shows the route you will need to use:
You will need to allow plenty of extra time to cross from one side of the station to the other, bearing in mind that if there are trains in the vicinity, the level crossing barriers will be down which will mean there is a short wait to cross the railway tracks. Never attempt to cross the level crossing while the barriers are down.
There is also an alternative footbridge – not managed by us - over the railway, located next to the level crossing. However, getting to or from that alternative bridge involves crossing a busy road, and there is no formal pedestrian crossing point in the immediate vicinity to allow you to cross the road safely. Therefore, we advise following the walking route outlined above, using the level crossing.
Changing trains at Hampden Park
Because there will be no footbridge within the station, changing between trains at Hampden Park will take longer than usual, as you will need to leave the station and use the alternative walking route.
Because of this, we strongly advise that you avoid changing trains at Hampden Park. If you would usually connect with an onward service at Hampden Park, we advise you to do so at Eastbourne instead.
Accessibility information
The station footbridge does not provide a step-free route between the two platforms; therefore, its temporary removal will not cause any change to step-free access arrangements at the station.
The usual step-free route between the platforms, at street-level via the level-crossing, will continue to be available. During the footbridge refurbishment work, all passengers will need to use this route to cross from one side of the station to the other.
However, please note the alternative walking route from one side of the station to the other via the level crossing will involve a walk of approximately 330m.
Reinstatement of the footbridge
Once the refurbishment works have been completed off-site, the bridge span will be brought back to the station and reinstalled, using a specialist crane. This is expected to take place over a weekend in early April.
Shortly after that has taken place, once electrical equipment has been installed and important safety checks have been completed, the bridge will be re-opened for use. This is expected to be in mid-April.
Temporary car park closures
To facilitate the crane to remove the footbridge span, we will need to temporarily close the station car park from 01:00 on Sunday 8 February. The car park will re-open from 05:00 on the morning of Monday 9 February.
There will be a further closure of the station car park in early April to facilitate the reinstatement of the footbridge. We will provide details of this closure once they have been confirmed.
While work is taking place within the station, there may also be other times when the number of spaces within the car park may need to be temporarily reduced.
Information for local residents
We know that the station footbridge is informally used by some local residents to get across the railway tracks, from one side of the station to the other. During the footbridge works, this route will not be available. You will have to use the alternative walking route via the level-crossing.
Network Rail has written to local residents to provide information about the bridge refurbishment project, including details of the main phases of the works and any potential impacts on those close to the station.
If you have any questions about the works, please contact Network Rail’s 24-hour Helpline on 03457 11 41 41.