An extra six peak-time trains Brighton to London could be laid on every hour to cope with swelling passenger numbers.

Network Rail announced plans to make space for an extra 9,000 passengers every peak hour on the Brighton Main Line.

The company is seeking views on the proposals and is asking passengers’ views.

If supported, the changes could form part of a business plan in 2017.

Steve Knight, Network Rail area director for Sussex, said: “This part of our network already brings more than 60,000 passengers into central London every hour at peak times and that number is only going to grow. We are fast approaching the point where there simply isn’t any more space for more trains on the busiest parts of the network.”

The Sussex Route Study, compiled by the company with the help of Transport for London, the Department for Transport and train operators, predicts demand for rail travel into London Bridge could grow by 64%.

The work would be in addition to improvements due to be completed at London Bridge by 2018, work to increase capacity by Thameslink and expansions planned by Transport for London suburban routes south of the capital.

Gatwick Airport bosses welcomed the news – which could give its customers the chance to be able to catch a train into the capital every two and a half minutes.

Commuter Sam Whiting, 24, of Hove, works at an insurance firm in London Bridge and travels to work by train every day.

He said: “I regularly experience delays and cancellations on trains. And you’re sometimes left waiting on the platform for a while for the next service.

“Anything which makes more trains available, less delays and less waiting times, will benefit passengers and is good news. I think the ten year time scale is quite long – London services have been improved in as little as three years.”

View and comment on the plans at networkrail.co.uk.

A final report will be published in 2015.