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Thursday 18 May 2023

Rail passengers in Sussex are being reminded to check before they travel as Network Rail continues signalling upgrades in South London

Region & Route:

Southern

| Southern: Sussex

Passengers are being reminded to plan ahead and check their journeys as vital upgrades are completed on the railway on Network Rail’s Sussex route this late May bank holiday.

From Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 May, engineers will be carrying out signalling work between Streatham Hill and Crystal Palace and West Croydon.

As a result, this means that buses will replace trains between:

• Streatham Hill and Crystal Palace (calling additionally at Tulse Hill)
• Streatham Hill and West Croydon via Norwood Junction

Passengers should also note that Southern services between London Bridge and Beckenham Junction will be affected.

This work is part of the wider London Victoria resignalling programme, a major four-year package of upgrades to modernise 1980s track and signalling - the traffic lights of the railway - in south London and into London Victoria.

Following the completion of upgrades on the lines between Balham, Clapham Junction and London Victoria (platform 9-19) earlier this month, Network Rail has started work on the lines between Tulse Hill, Peckham Rye and Crystal Palace. The new signalling system on these lines will be switched on over the February half term 2024.

From Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 May, engineers will also be working to replace track and stabilise a railway cutting between Oxted and East Grinstead and Oxted and Uckfield.

This will mean that buses will replace trains between:

• Purley and East Grinstead (via Upper Warlingham / Oxted only)
• Woldingham and East Grinstead (calling at all stations)
• Woldingham and Uckfield

No trains will run between South Croydon and Oxted, South Croydon to East Grinstead and South Croydon to Uckfield.

Part of the track on this line dates back to the 1980s and needs renewing. Replacing the current track, as well as carrying out earthworks and routine inspections will reduce the risk of having to introduce speed restrictions in the area and will also help prevent disruption to services as a result of landslips.

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these important upgrades over the late May bank holiday. There is never a good time to close the railway, but we have chosen to complete this work over the bank holiday weekend when passenger numbers are generally lower to help minimise disruption.

“The work is vital in modernising the dated track because it’s important that we give passengers better and more reliable journeys.

“I encourage any passengers who are planning to travel by train over the weekend to plan ahead and check their journeys with their train operator.”

Jenny Saunders, customer services director for Southern and Gatwick Express, said: “We’re very grateful to our passengers for their patience while Network Rail carry out these essential projects, which will boost reliability and maintain safety.

"The work over the weekend and into next week affects relatively short stretches of the network, but with buses replacing trains, journeys will take longer than normal so please plan your trip and check service times before you set off.”

Engineers will also be working on some local stretches of the Southern network on bank holiday Monday and into the following week. [See details in editors notes below.]