Rail passengers warned of changes to Sussex train services over festive period

Train travellers are being warned of route changes over Christmas because of engineering works.
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The changes will be in place from Sunday December 27 until Sunday January 3 and will affect Southern and Thameslink services.

Network Rail says that Southern services between London Victoria and Bognor Regis/Portsmouth and Southsea/Southampton will operate on diversion via Dorking and will not call at Gatwick, Crawley or Three Bridges.

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Travellers at Horsham, or to the south who want to travel to Gatwick, should plan to change trains at Horsham and to allow additional time for the connection, says Network Rail.

Network Rail engineering worksNetwork Rail engineering works
Network Rail engineering works

Southern/Gatwick Express services between Victoria and Brighton will not operate on Monday December 28 – Thursday December 31 or Saturday January 2.

Network Rail advises that passengers for Brighton to/from London or Gatwick should plan to use Thameslink services to/from London Bridge.

The Thameslink Gatwick to Bedford via Redhill service will start its journey at Three Bridges.

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No trains will operate on Christmas Day and there will be a limited Southern service on Boxing Day.

Passengers can find out how their Christmas journeys will be affected with their train operator, via National Rail Enquiries, or by following #ChristmasRailWorks on Twitter.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “People are asked to follow the latest Government guidance over the Christmas period and stay at home or stay local to help tackle the spread of Covid-19.

“The new restrictions also mean that people should not travel into or out of Hastings, Rother, Havant, Portsmouth, Kent, Surrey or London, which are now Tier 4 areas.”

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Sussex route director Shaun King said: “The work we are doing this Christmas and New Year will mean a better, more reliable railway for passengers.

“We are delivering a vital £150m upgrade to Gatwick Airport station to increase capacity, improve accessibility and transform the experience for more passengers, than ever before.”

Suthern managing director Angie Doll said: “There will be some changes from the usual festive-period timetable, so please plan well ahead by checking a journey planner, and avoid busy periods if you can.”