Temporary Rail Changes Affect East Sussex-London Trains

(c) Southern

Passengers travelling between East Sussex and London face four weeks of changes to daytime rail services from Monday.

Southern says trains will not run directly between Eastbourne or Ore and London Victoria via Lewes and Haywards Heath between 9am and 4.15pm on weekdays.

Instead, Eastbourne will have an hourly service to and from Haywards Heath, where passengers can change for trains towards London and Gatwick Airport.

An hourly service will also run in both directions between Ore and Eastbourne.

Southern is advising passengers to allow extra time for their journeys.

People travelling from Ore, Hastings or St Leonards Warrior Square can use Southeastern services at no additional cost.

The operator says peak-time services will not be affected.

Southern has apologised for the disruption, saying the temporary timetable is intended to provide a more reliable service and reduce last-minute cancellations or changes.

The changes are being introduced after hot and dry weather over the summer affected track conditions.

Part of the route was already subject to significant disruption following the derailment of a passenger train near Lewes in August.

Carriages on a service travelling from London to Eastbourne left the track and went down an embankment, with 30 people injured, including two seriously.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch subsequently said a track defect had been reported close to the derailment site.

The line between Lewes and Haywards Heath was closed for 19 days while investigations and repairs were carried out, before reopening on 1 September.

The temporary Southern timetable is due to remain in place for four weeks.