RAIL chiefs could spend up to £15 million on modernising outdated railway stations across Sussex.

Planned improvements include secure car and cycle parking, glass-fronted lifts, better staffing and upgraded customer facilities.

French-owned train operator Connex has revealed a list of Sussex sites it wants to transform to attract more commuters and off-peak passengers.

Nearly £2 million could be spent in total on the current revamp of Brighton station. Proposed improvements at Haywards Heath, which may start this summer, are expected to cost £800,000.

The company is also proposing to spend an average £500,000-£800,000 per station at 17 other locations around the county.

In West Sussex improvements are planned for Chichester, Bognor Regis, Barnham, Littlehampton, Worthing, Pulborough, Horsham, Three Bridges, Shoreham-by-Sea and East Grinstead.

In East Sussex stations at Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford, Eastbourne, Rye, Uckfield and Robertsbridge are being lined up for upgrades.

But the company said investment in these 17 locations depends on Connex securing

a longer-term South Central franchise.

If the company is given a 20-year deal by the Strategic Rail Authority in the summer, work could begin later in the year and be completed across the county before the end of 2003.

Connex is fighting back after the end of industrial action by drivers over working overtime and a survey last month which highlighted passengers' discontentwith trains and fares.

The company's commercial manager for Sussex, Joe O'Meara, said: "We have listened to our customers and to people who do not use the train to see what they want."

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