The town is not cut off, but it's hard work getting anywhere

East Sussex fire brigade spokesman

In the city of Nottingham, only one of the five rail routes were in operation, according to Raitrack.

Two main lines between London and the north have been blocked by the floods, increasing the misery for rail travellers.

Midland Mainline trains between Sheffield and London St Pancras are badly affected.

Services between Leicester, Loughborough, Market Harborough, Kettering, Bedford and Luton are all experiencing severe disruption.

'Essential travel only'

GNER spokesman David Mallender said the floods had also affected services between Edinburgh and London.

Trains from London are terminating at Doncaster, while services from Edinburgh are only running as far as Newcastle.

"Our general advice to passengers is not to travel today unless necessary as we are running a very limited service," Mr Mallender said.

Great Western trains to the south west are terminating at Taunton.

A spokesman for the South Central line said passengers travelling to and from London were having to go via Lewes, and the Brighton-Gatwick-Rugby service was starting at Haywards Heath and ending at Watford.

"We are trying to get better bus services running to cover stations in Brighton," the spokesman said.

"There has been significant track damage at Hassocks in Brighton due to flooding and until that is repaired we will not be able to run trains."

The travel chaos was increased by the fact that roads in and out of Brighton are also suffering under the extreme weather conditions with the A23 at Patcham in north Brighton not expected to reopen until Friday.

The A27 from Brighton to Worthing is still flooded and nearly impassable despite reopening.

An East Sussex Fire Brigade spokesman said: "The town is not cut off, but it's hard work getting anywhere."

Floodline: 0845 988 1188