HUNDREDS of graffiti-stricken heritage railway sites have been given a new lease of life.

National Rail has removed graffiti from more than 450 “problem areas” in the South East of England, with 110 areas in the Sussex area alone receiving a spruce up.

It comes as the company pledges £2 million to refurbish the rail network ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “We have a wonderful and historic railway in Britain with engineering marvels spanning back to Victorian times, but all too often it is blighted by unsightly graffiti and vandalism which is an eyesore for our passengers and railway neighbours.

The Argus: An example of graffiti in Chessington South, LondonAn example of graffiti in Chessington South, London

“Our teams have been working extremely hard to remove graffiti and to make the railway more inviting. This is no easy task and cannot be done overnight but I know that this investment will make a real difference to communities and our passengers across the country.”

The Sussex area of rail covers tracks from London Victoria and London Bridge down into South London, and across East and West Sussex, via East Croydon and Norwood Junction.

There are seven further sites in Sussex that require additional work, which will be completed ahead of the jubilee.

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “Everyone should feel safe and comfortable when travelling on our railways and graffiti isn’t just a criminal offence or eyesore, it can also lead to passengers feeling that railways are unkept or a slightly dangerous way to travel.”

It comes as Network Rail deployed a graffiti “hit squad” in the West Midlands last year to prepare the railway ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, to be held in Birmingham.

Thousand of tags have been cleared from the area, according to National Rail’s website, with work also taking place in the East Midlands, as residents in the area are said to be “enjoying a more pleasant route over the railway following the removal of graffiti”.

National Rail said graffiti is not only unsightly, but dangerous, as those “trespassing on the railway risk tragic consequences or life-changing injuries”.