Train operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has introduced a pilot trial of short-stay parking rates at three railway stations in Sussex.

Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates Southern and Thameslink train services, has introduced the trial Brighton, Eastbourne and Lewes stations. These stations were chosen for the trial because their town and city centres offer daytime and evening attractions that would benefit from having short-stay car parking that is good-value, convenient, and charges for flexible durations. It is hoped that town-centre visitors will find the new flexible charges popular.

At Eastbourne and Lewes, new parking rates have been introduced for a trial period until mid-February that offer one-hour, two-hour, and evening rates for parking. Until now car park users only had the option of paying for a full day’s parking, which was a historical situation to ensure there were sufficient spaces for commuters. This meant that most users had left the car parks by early evening. Also, there has been less demand for parking during the day on most weekdays since the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Eastbourne, during the trial period, instead of paying the full weekday tariff of £6.60, customers can pay £1.50 for one hour or £3 for two hours of parking. Evening charges from 6.00 pm until 3.59 am the next day for just £2.

At Lewes, instead of a full weekday charge of £7.80, the charges are £2 for one hour, £4 for two hours, or £1,50 for the whole evening from 6.00 pm until 3.59 am the following day.

Brighton already has two, four, and six-hour rates, but during the trial evening visitors can park from 6 pm to 3.59 am the next day the charge is £6 instead of the daytime rate of £8.90 for six hours.

GTR’s Commercial Director David Gornall said: “We hope these more flexible choices prove popular, as we expect the new charging structure to be a win-win – good value and convenience for the local community and more revenue for the railway. If people in Brighton, Eastbourne and Lewes like the new tariffs we’ll make them permanent and look to extend them across more of our stations.”