On the buses: this map was issued today by Govia Thameslink Railway and shows how passengers travelling south of Croydon this Sunday face long delays to their journeys
Network Rail has issued an urgent notice to passengers hoping to travel south of Croydon, to Gatwick Airport and other destinations on the Brighton mainline this Sunday, November 30.
And there’s a warning of similar, if not greater, rail disruption to come on services to and from East Croydon and Purley on three weekends in January.
The bus replacement services this Sunday are expected to “extend journey times considerably”, according to the rail operators, Govia Thameslink.
“Passengers need to check before they travel,” Network Rail said today ahead of what it describes as “essential engineering work” to the south of Gatwick.
Bus replacement services will be in place. “All four tracks will be closed, meaning no trains will run between Gatwick Airport and Brighton, Hove, Lewes or Horsham,” Network Rail’s statement said.
The closure will allow Network Rail to conduct a major package of works, including replacing sections of track at Tinsley Green Junction near Crawley, at Three Bridges and between Copyhold Junction and the Ouse Valley viaduct.
Drainage systems at Wivelsfield station will also be renewed and maintenance will take place at Keymer level crossing and other locations. “These improvements are vital to keep services safe and reliable,” the statement said.
The works are required, Network Rail says, to “prevent speed restrictions or emergency closures occurring in the future, which would cause even bigger delays at these locations and on the wider rail network”.
Passenger advice
All lines are closed between Brighton and Gatwick Airport which means no trains will run between: Brighton, Hove, Lewes and Horsham, to and from Gatwick Airport.
Replacement buses will run between:
- Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport
- Brighton and Three Bridges
- Horsham and Three Bridges
- Lewes / Cooksbridge / Plumpton and Haywards Heath and Three Bridges
A diverted Southern train service will run between Brighton and London Victoria calling at Hove, Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing, Angmering, Littlehampton, Horsham and Clapham Junction.
“If travelling between Brighton and London, rail passengers are strongly advised to use this train service rather than the limited replacement bus service,” according to the rail operators.
“Passengers should be aware that if they are travelling by replacement buses on routes between Brighton, Lewes, Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport, they will need to change buses at Three Bridges for a separate shuttle bus service between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport,” the notice said.
“This is because there isn’t sufficient space at Gatwick Airport to set up the temporary queuing systems that are needed.
“At Three Bridges station, there is more space available, allowing the car park to be converted into a temporary bus hub with different queues for buses serving various destinations.
“To facilitate the bus hub, the station car park at Three Bridges will be closed from the Saturday evening, November 29, until early morning Monday December 1.”
Further major works will also take place on the Brighton mainline over three weekends in January between Gatwick Airport and Purley and East Croydon, as well as on branch lines between Reigate and Redhill and Redhill to Tonbridge.
There will also be a closure between Three Bridges and Brighton on Sunday February 1.
Replacement buses will run where trains are not operating, and “detailed travel advice about those closures will be shared in December”, Govia Thameslink said today.
Passengers are recommended to plan ahead at nationalrail.co.uk and check live running information online before you leave for the station.
Read more: Time to scrap overpriced Gatwick Express ruse, says rail report
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