Plan ahead as buses replace trains on Sunday 30 November

Passengers are advised to plan ahead on Sunday 30 November as buses replace trains on the Brighton Main Line due to major engineering work south of Gatwick Airport.

All four tracks will be closed, meaning no trains will run between Gatwick Airport and Brighton, Hove, Lewes or Horsham.

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.

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said: “We know closing the railway is frustrating, and we are sorry for the disruption this causes.

"This work is essential for us as we try and 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.

"Thank you for your understanding, and please do plan ahead and check before you travel if you are travelling on Sunday 30 November, as your journey will take longer.”

Passenger advice

All lines are closed between Brighton and Gatwick Airport which means no trains will run between:

• Brighton, Hove, Lewes and Horsham to/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.

Passengers should be aware that if they are travelling by replacement buses on routes between Brighton, Lewes, Haywards Heath, or and Gatwick Airport, they will need to change buses at Three Bridges for a separate shuttle bus service between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport. 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 evening of Saturday 29 November until early morning Monday 1 December.

Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “Any of our customers travelling between the coast and Gatwick this Sunday should please take note that this essential work is going to extend their journeys considerably. Please plan ahead at nationalrail.co.uk and check live running information online before you leave for the station.””

Further major works will also take place on the Brighton Main Line 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 1 February.

Replacement buses will run where trains are not operating, and detailed travel advice about those closures will be shared in December.