A NEW roof, gutters and downpipes are among the improvements at a railway station.

Shoreham Railway Station has undergone major repairs and refurbishment to upgrade and improve it for passengers.

Along with the new roof and guttering, which will help reduce flooding, a timber valance board replacement has been installed to protect the canopy roof.

Wooden fascia boards that stop water from penetrating the roof have been replaced.

Using HVO fuel, hydro-treated vegetable oil, during the work reduced the amount of carbon produced at the site.

HVO is an advanced renewable fuel made from pre-existing bio-waste products such as used cooking oil, waste plant and organic matter.

While it currently costs more than red diesel, it reduces net CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 90 per cent.

Shaun King, Sussex route director for Network Rail, said: “This upgrade has made a big difference to Shoreham-by-Sea Station.

“These improvements are a vital aspect of our work to provide a safe, reliable and efficient railway.

“Shoreham was also the first project in Sussex to use recycled cooking oil instead of diesel fuel, allowing engineers to reduce the amount of carbon produced at the site by 37 per cent.

“These actions help Network Rail work towards its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

The station’s most frequent service is eastbound to Brighton, with four trains per hour. An additional half-hourly service runs to London Victoria.

Regular trains run westbound to Littlehampton, Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.

Chris Fowler, Southern’s customer services director, said: “On behalf of our customers, we welcome Network Rail’s investment to restore and protect the fabric of the station buildings at Shoreham-by-Sea, and thank them for the care taken to minimise disruption and use low-carbon energy.

“As restrictions ease and more passengers return to the station, they’ll also be able to enjoy a package of enhancements we’re making as part of our own network-wide, multimillion-pound station improvement programme. These include new seats and platform shelter, refurbishing the waiting room, and refreshing the landscaping.”