Network Rail has advised passengers to plan ahead as they prepare to start improvement work on the Brighton Mainline during October 2018 and February 2019.
The improvement work is being described as ‘once-in-a-generation' and will focus on the southern end of the Brighton Main Line.
The work will take place in October 2018 and February 2019. It is part of a £300million government-funded programme to tackle delay hotspot in the south-east.
From Sunday 20th until Sunday 28th October 2018 and from Saturday 16th to Sunday 24th February 2019, no trains will be running between Three Bridges and Brighton or between Three Bridges and Lewes.
The work will focus on four Victorian-era tunnels, these being Balcombe, Clayton, Patcham and Haywards Heath. The aim is to stem leaks and to improve drainage in tunnels.
Elsewhere, third-rail and signaling will be replaced or upgraded. The track will be renewed, sets of points will be replaced and fencing will be improved to deter trespassers.
The closures have been planned to be in the school half terms when passenger numbers are lower. People who are traveling need to plan ahead and should expect to use diverted trains.
What did the officials say?
John Halsall, managing director, Network Rail-South East route, said: “This is a long-overdue upgrade to one of the most unreliable parts of the south east's rail network. Southern and Thameslink passengers deserve better and this work will help us deliver that to them. We know closing the railway will be unpopular and I'd like to assure passengers that this decision has not been taken lightly. We explored a range of different options, but the only alternative to weekday closures would have required us to close this part of the Brighton Main Line for 84 weekends. Clearly, that's not acceptable to passengers or the region's economy – but neither is doing nothing.
He added “We're giving people as much notice as possible to enable them to start thinking ahead, particularly as we know many people will already be making plans for the rest of the year. We'll continue to work closely with GTR, Transport Focus and passenger groups to make sure passengers get the best possible service during these two planned closures and we keep disruption to a minimum.”
Keith Jipps, Govia Thameslink Railway's Infrastructure Director, said: “This route is the most congested and intensively used in the country and Network Rail's work is essential to give our passengers the reliable, on-time services they want and deserve.
He added “We'll be ensuring there are multiple options for passengers to make their journeys, including alternative transport to other rail stations, and with other train operators. However, passengers need to know that they will have significantly longer journeys over this period of time.”
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For more information
Which also means that Thameslink Brighton-Cambridge & Peterborough-Horsham services will also be affected and would basically terminate at London Bridge and/or East Croydon.