Southern Rail: Train delays reported in Sussex after track safety inspection and overrunning engineering works; major disruption in Surrey after signalling fault
Significant train delays have reported across Sussex and Surrey, amid multiple incidents on the railway.
At 4.50am on Tuesday (November 11), Southern Rail reported that overnight engineering works between Eastbourne and Lewes had overrun.
This meant that the first morning services between these stations were delayed or started / terminated at a different station than scheduled.
Services running between Haywards Heath/Brighton and Seaford/Eastbourne/Ore, were delayed until 5.20am.
An update read: “Engineering works have now been complete and trains are running between Eastbourne and Lewes again. If you are travelling this morning, your journey may be delayed by up to 20 minutes.”
By 6am, services were no longer being affected by this incident.
However, half an hour later, it was reported that a track safety inspection was being carried out between Eastbourne and Bexhill. This means that trains have to run at reduced speed on the line.
Train services running to and from towards Hastings and Ore have been subject to delays.
Southern Rail reported that disruption is currently expected until 10am.
"Delays of around five to ten minutes are possible in the Normans Bay area this morning, affecting trains towards Bexhill, Hastings, Ore and Ashford International,” the train company added.
"You can travel using your normal route, but please allow extra time for your journey.”
The disruption come amid a ‘possible issue with the track’ in the Normans Bay area.
Southern added: “Network Rail's engineers are attending as quickly as possible to carry out a detailed inspection.
“There are various different types of defects, and the first advice usually comes from drivers or other staff travelling through the area. Response staff will check the location which has been specified and find out whether the track is still supported correctly, whether the rails themselves are in the usual condition, and if there are any problems with the fixings and metalwork which attach the rails to the sleepers.
“Until this is done, trains will need to run at a much slower speed than usual, which will lead to a delay to your journey.”
Meanwhile, major disruption has been reported in Surrey after a fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and Purley. The incident means fewer trains are able to run between these stations.
If a signal cannot display the usual lights, trains must travel at reduced speed. Railway signals warn drivers when they need to stop. Normally, a green light means the track is clear, while yellow signals warn of a red light ahead.
Signalling works on ‘fail-safe’ principles. If a signal cannot change properly, it defaults to a more restrictive setting, causing trains to slow down even if the track is clear.
Network Rail maintains the system, and Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express are ‘working with them to fix the fault as quickly as possible’.
They added: “In the meantime, we are monitoring services and doing our best to keep to the timetable.”
Trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised until 3pm.
Journeys will take around 20-30 minutes longer, so you are advised to ‘please allow extra time’.
The fault with the signalling system is ‘expected cause significant disruption’ to services running across the Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express network.
No Southern services will stop at Reigate, the company confirmed.
It added: “You can instead use Great Western Railway to travel to Redhill or Gatwick Airport where you can change to alternative services towards your destination. Alternative routes using road transport will significantly extend journey times so you should allow at least 30 minutes of extra time.”
There will also be a significantly reduced service at the following stations: Horley; Salfords; Earlswood; Merstham; Coulsdon South and Purley.
The following service changes are expected:
– Gatwick Express services will be suspended;
– Thameslink services that run between Bedford and Three Bridges (stopping services via Redhill) will be suspended;
– Southern services that run between London Victoria and Reigate / Gatwick Airport (via Redhill) will be suspended;
– Southern services that run between London Victoria and Eastbourne will be suspended (services that run between Ore and London Victoria will continue to run);
– Services that run between Caterham / Tatteham Corner and London Bridge will run between Caterham/Tatttenham Corner and Purley only;
– Other services will be subject to delays, alterations and cancellations. Some services may have cancelled stops, or will terminate and restart at a different station to normal.
Southern Rail added: “Staff are working to have services stop additionally at stations with reduced service. These may be advertised at short notice, so please check journey planners and live departure boards for the latest information.
“If your planned train is cancelled you will need to use an alternative route. We recommend using local TfL and Metrobus routes towards Gatwick Airport or Redhill to connect with alternative Thameslink and Southern services.
“Alternative routes using road transport will significantly extend journey times so you should allow at least 30 minutes of extra time.
“You may need to take an earlier train than planned or change trains partway through your journey. Gatwick Express is suspended so you can use Southern and Thameslink services to / from Brighton and London Victoria for travel to / from Gatwick Airport.
"Please check before you travel this morning. If your train is affected then you may need to take an alternative service, changing trains part way through your journey, or make use of local bus services.”
Tickets will be accepted for no extra cost on the following:
– Southern and Thameslink services on any reasonable route, including between London, Gatwick Airport and Brighton/the coast, and between Central London, East Croydon and Sanderstead (for Purley Oaks);
– Great Western Railway services between Reigate, Redhill and Gatwick Airport;
– London Underground between London Terminals;
– London Buses between East Croydon and Redhill route 405 runs between East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley, Reedham, Couldson Town, Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill;
– Metrobus route 20 between Horley, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges;
– 100 between Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Gatwick Airport, Crawley, and Three Bridges;
– 400 between Caterham, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Gatwick Airport, Crawley, Three Bridges;
– 420 between Tattenham, Tadworth, Lower Kingswood, Reigate, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Gatwick Airport, and Crawley;
– 430 / 435 between Redhill, Reigate, Earlswood, and Merstham;
– 460 between Tattenham, Tadworth, Lower Kingswood, Reigate, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Gatwick Airport, and Crawley;
– 411 between Merstham, Redhill, and Reigate;
– 424 for Reigate, Redhill, Horley, Crawley
On Monday night (November 10), Thameslink reported that the emergency services were dealing with an incident between Finsbury Park and Welwyn Garden City.
Trains on the line towards Finsbury Park were subject to delays around 9.15pm.
Thameslink added: “Services running between Peterborough and Horsham are currently experiencing delays due to this incident.”
By 10.15pm, services were no longer being affected by this incident.
If you have been delayed by 15 minutes or more when travelling on the railway, you may be eligible for delay repay. To make a claim, visit: https://delayrepay.southernrailway.com