Brighton Main Line Weekend Disruption

Bus replacements and train diversions will delay railway passengers between Brighton and London this weekend.

Southern Rail described the changes as necessary to allow engineers to deliver what they called "another slice of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan".

The train operator advised careful planning by potential passengers, including the need to leave more time for journeys if travelling on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January.

The main impacts to passengers will be:

• Buses will replace trains between Three Bridges to Brighton and Lewes.
• Southern trains will run on a diversion route between Brighton and London Victoria via Horsham.

Southern went on to describe the exact track upgrade work that Network Rail was expected to undertake:

• 600m of new track from Copyhold Junction to Haywards Heath
• 800m of new rail between Three Bridges and Preston Park
• Upgrade works at Gatwick Airport station 
• Drainage works between Cooksbridge and Lewes
• Platform repairs at Cooksbridge station
• Maintenance works between Wivelsfield and Brighton.

Shaun King, route director, Sussex said:

"To keep trains running reliably, we have to continue with our Railway Upgrade Plan to replace worn-out track and other equipment.

"Hundreds of trains run on these tracks every day and by doing these works, we can continue to improve their reliability and improve the journeys of passengers."