Based on the evidence, the claim is well-supported. Multiple authoritative sources confirm that the previous (Conservative) government cancelled or paused the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS), which was designed to address the bottleneck at East Croydon station. **Key findings:** 1. **Network Rail's own website** states: "The Brighton Mainline Upgrade Programme, which comprise the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS)… was paused in 2022 at Outline Business Case stage by the previous government. No further development work has taken place since this point, and the programme is not currently funded." 2. **Transport Minister Simon Lightwood** confirmed in a March 2026 Westminster Hall debate (secured by Natasha Irons herself): "In response, the previous Government took the decision to cancel the scheme at the 2021 spending review, although regrettably that decision was never actually formally communicated to stakeholders. No further development work has taken place on CARS since then." 3. **BBC News** reported: "Transport Minister Simon Lightwood confirmed the project had been paused by the previous government in 2022 without notifying stakeholders, and has not been reinstated in subsequent spending reviews." 4. The CARS scheme was specifically designed to address the bottleneck at East Croydon, including expanding the station from six to eight platforms, redesigning track layout in the Selhurst triangle, and removing conflicting train movements. The claim that "the previous Government shelved plans to unblock the bottleneck at East Croydon station" is accurate. The previous government cancelled CARS at the 2021 spending review (with Network Rail describing it as paused in 2022), and no development work has occurred since. The word "shelved" is an accurate characterisation of both "cancelled" and "paused." Sources: - Network Rail – Brighton Main Line upgrade proposals (https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/our-routes/sussex/brighton-main-line-upgrade-proposals/) - BBC News – Croydon rail upgrade delay may impact Gatwick and Universal, says MP (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8x7l992k7wo) - TheyWorkForYou – Westminster Hall debate on Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme, 17 March 2026 (https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2026-03-17c.253.0) - New Civil Engineer – MPs demand revival of Croydon rail overhaul (https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/mps-demand-revival-of-croydon-rail-overhaul-due-to-fundamental-link-with-gatwick-expansion-24-03-2026/)