Rail disruption warning after engineering overruns

Tanya GuptaSouth East
News imageNetwork Rail Contractors wearing orange hi-vis clothing carrying out maintenance work on a railway line.Network Rail
Network Rail had scheduled work to take place over three weekends in January

Rail passengers have been warned of disruption on Monday morning as weekend engineering work overruns.

Work has been taking place on Brighton Mainline between Gatwick Airport, Redhill and Reigate, Purley and East Croydon.

National Rail said on Sunday the work was not expected to be finished in time, with disruption to services likely until the end of Monday.

Thameslink and Southern rail also warned of disruption and said only two of four lines between Gatwick and East Croydon would be available on Monday, which meant there would be "a reduced service across the network".

'Short notice changes'

Passengers were advised to check journey planners ahead of travelling and allow extra time to complete journeys.

National Rail provided a list of expected changes but said other short notice changes and delays were also likely.

Journey planners were due to be updated by 22:00 GMT on Sunday, it added.

People who want to delay their journey until Tuesday will be able to use Monday-dated tickets on Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services, National Rail said.

Southern services between Reigate and London Victoria and between Redhill and Tonbridge in Kent will run normally.

Network Rail originally scheduled the work to take place over three weekends in January, with further dates planned in February, March and May.

Work was planned over winter to protect the line during peak tourism season, Network Rail said.

News imageGetty Images The image shows two engineers working on the rail tracks. They are bending down an inspecting a track.Getty Images
Weekend work had overrun, said National Rail

National Rail listed the following changes on Sunday but said alterations would be confirmed on its website later:

  • Gatwick Express services between Brighton, Gatwick Airport and London Victoria will be suspended
  • Thameslink services between Brighton and Cambridge will be suspended
  • Peak-time Southern services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria will not run
  • Peak-time Southern services between Littlehampton / Bognor Regis / Eastbourne and London Bridge will not run
  • No services will stop at Earlswood (Surrey) or Salfords all day

Services running normally are as follows:

  • Southern services between Reigate and London Victoria
  • Southern services between Redhill and Tonbridge

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