AIR-CONDITIONED trains to replace rattling relics were promised today as the main rail operator in Sussex unveiled £326 million improvement plans.

If Connex South Central is given a 15-year franchise by the Director of Rail Franchising, it will eliminate slam-door coaches by the year 2000 and order hundreds of new air-conditioned carriages. They will replace trains which are up to 40 years old running on lines to London and along the coast. There will be 341 new carriages for all-day services from the year 2000 and 156 reconditioned classic coaches from next year for peak services. Connex also plans to electrify the lines between Oxted and Uckfield, and Ashford and Hastings, at a cost of £27 million. These lines would also get new trains. All-day through services from Uckfield to London would be provided for the first time in 11 years with an extra peak morning train and services later in the evening. Brighton to Ashford through services would also be provided all day as well as through services from the Ashford line to London. At present Connex has a seven-year franchise and managing director Geoff Harrison-Mee said that extending it to 2011 would make major improvements economically viable. He added that by 2010, Connex would no longer need any Government subsidy. The company also plans more Connex Express services like the one successfully introduced last year between Brighton and London. These would link Chichester, Eastbourne and Horsham with London and also link Gatwick Airport with Birmingham via Rugby. Connex plans to spend £14 million on 14 hub and ten interchange stations offering better connections between road and rail. Improvements will be made to car parking and bus connections at these stations. Hub stations will include Three Bridges, Brighton, Lewes, Haywards Heath, Hove, Eastbourne, Worthing, Chichester and Horsham. They will provide customer lounges, guaranteed bus or taxi connections with late night trains, improved staffing and outside retail trading. Interchange stations will include East Grinstead, Crowborough, Polegate, Shoreham, Barnham, Littlehampton, Bognor, Pulborough and Crawley.

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