Funding delays for a major £2.9billion rail upgrade threatens to affect the new Universal Studios UK theme park and Gatwick Airport's expansion, an MP has said. Croydon East MP Natasha Irons called for action over the stalled scheme, which was proposed in 2020 to ease a bottleneck on the Brighton Main Line in the Croydon area.

The delay was debated in a Commons debate where transport minister Simon Lightwood said the scheme had been paused by the previous government in 2022. He said the project has not been reinstated in spending reviews since, according to the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS) included work at East Croydon and Norwood Junction stations.

It also involved remodelling track around Selhurst as well as bridge works to make room for extra lines.

Network Rail said no further development work on CARS has happened since the scheme was paused.

The rail operator of most of the UK's rail infrastructure said there were no plans to apply for planning consents or seek any linked land purchases.

Ms Irons said more delay threatened to undermine Universal Studios' proposal for a new theme park in Bedfordshire, where building work is underway.

The entertainment giant wants to open its first UK theme park in Kempston Hardwick in 2031.

Croydon East's Labour MP said work on Gatwick Airport's runway expansion could also be affected.

She told the Commons on March 17: "Rail is not an optional extra. It is a fundamental element of Gatwick's success."

Network Rail has said "targeted" improvements have been made along the Brighton Main Line.

These include track layout improvements at Gatwick, a new crossover at Horsham and a modified signal layout around Clapham Junction.