Rail lines to close after landslip affects track

A railway line between Surrey and West Sussex will be closed until "at least Friday" following a landslip, Network Rail has said.

The slip happened near Ockley on Friday afternoon, initially forcing the closure of one track.

Services between the two stations were unable to use the usual route via East Croydon due to engineering works.

Network Rail said the line between Dorking and Horsham would be closed from the start of service on Monday until at least 30 January.

Network Rail says buses will replace trains between Horsham and Dorking, and trains will be running from both stations.

No trains will serve Holmwood, Ockley or Warnham until the line has re-opened.

Southern, who run services on the line, say the landslip is "substantial".

The operator said the affected track has "severely moved" as the earth around it has shifted.

The closure will allow engineers to stablilise the embankment and fix the broken rail.

Speaking on behalf of Network Rail, Lucy McAuliffe, route director, said: "We're really sorry for the disruption this week and the short notice of this closure.

"We know closing the line between Dorking and Horsham is going to be frustrating for passengers, and it's certainly not a decision we've taken lightly.

"Safety for passengers and railway staff has to come first, and we need to act quickly to make sure that the condition of the embankment does not deteriorate further."

Passengers have been told to check the Southern or National Rail websites for travel advice and ticket acceptance.

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