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Friday 24 May 2019

Sussex and south London passengers advised to check before they travel ahead of late May bank holiday weekend

Region & Route:

Southern

• Thousands of Network Rail staff will work around the clock to deliver a multi-million-pound programme of work
• Most of the railway in Sussex and south London will remain open over the bank holiday weekend (25 – 27 May) but some routes will be affected

As people prepare for the bank holiday getaway, Network Rail is advising passengers to plan their journeys in advance of the weekend. The majority of services will run as normal but there will be changes on some routes. This programme of work will allow Network Rail to deliver more reliable infrastructure, improved facilities and better services for passengers.

John Halsall, Route Managing Director at Network Rail south east, said:

"I know passengers feel we are always working on the railway but the work we do really is essential, and Bank Holidays are simply the best time to do it, when the fewest people are travelling on our trains.

“Our route is the busiest in the country and we carry 510m passengers every year. The only way we can keep doing that reliably and safely is by constantly improving and renewing the railway and we really appreciate passengers’ patience while we do it.

“Train operators will be running as many trains as they can, but I would urge passengers to check before they travel as there will be some changes.”

Keith Jipps, Infrastructure Director at Govia Thameslink Railway, said:

“We’d urge passengers to check before they travel at nationalrail.co.uk and allow longer time if their journeys are affected by this essential work.”

Upgrade work taking place across Sussex and south London

From Saturday 25 May to Monday 27 May:

• An amended Thameslink service will be in operation due to engineering work at London St Pancras International to maintain good working order of the track.
• Due to re-signalling works in the Angerstein area, Thameslink trains between Lewisham / Deptford and Plumstead will not run. Buses will replace trains between Lewisham and Plumstead via New Cross and Greenwich.

Saturday 25 May:

• Southern train services between East Croydon and Milton Keynes Central will start / terminate at Shepherds Bush due to track maintenance.

Sunday 26 May:

• Trains may be subject to extended journey times on Gatwick Express trains because of engineering work between Earlswood and Gatwick Airport.
• Southern services between East Croydon and Watford Junction will not run. 
• Southern trains may be subject to extended journey times between Earlswood and Gatwick Airport.
• Thameslink trains will not stop at Earlswood or Salfords. Customers should use replacement bus service between Redhill and Horley.

Monday 27 May:

Southern services between East Croydon and Milton Keynes Central will start / terminate at Shepherds Bush while track maintenance is delivered.

A breakdown of how some journeys will be affected can be found by visiting nationalrail.co.uk/May and following #MayBHworks on Twitter.

The programme of work is part of Network Rail’s railway upgrade plan – a multi-billion-pound investment in the rail network which will improve passenger journeys in the months and years ahead.