The multi million pound redevelopment is intended to provide an additional platform to reduce a bottleneck and make it easier for trains to pass though the station thus increasing capacity on the London – Brighton line which suffers from over-crowding at peak times.

But Network Rail, which published its Rail Utilisation Strategy (RUS) for Sussex [and Brighton & Hove] on Friday, has identified a £13m funding gap for the scheme. It is ironic because the RUS identified a number of gaps in the quality of its service provision, the most significant of which is overcrowding on peak services to/from London, in particular, services on the Brighton Main Line and fast line services from East Croydon.

Network Rail has admitted that if it is unable to find the money from other sources, the opportunity to make significant improvements at Gatwick will be lost for two decades.

The Regional Transport Board has pledged £5m but expects it to be matched from other sources and is cleafly looking for the new owners of Gatwick Airport to make a significant contribution.