Great Western Railway (GWR) is warning customers that there will be amended train services and bus replacement services to Gatwick Airport on the Reading route, North Downs line, over the next three consecutive weekends in January.

Covering 10/11, 17/18 and 24/25 January, the line from Gatwick Airport to Reading will be partially closed across different sections of the line over the course of the three weekends to allow for track and signalling work to be undertaken.

On the 10/11 January, GWR trains will only run from Reading to Reigate, where bus replacement services will take passengers onward from Reigate to Gatwick Airport.

On the 17/18 and 24/25 January, GWR trains will only run from Reading to Guildford, where bus replacement services will take passengers onward from Guildford to Gatwick Airport.

As if this wasn’t bad enough for rail passengers heading off on their winter holidays, the Brighton Main Line is also being affected by closures over the same weekends and beyond into February.

Limited Southern services will run from Victoria to Gatwick Airport using a different route. Gatwick Express services will not run, and cross-London Thameslink services will terminate at East Croydon.

Passengers travelling to Gatwick Airport later in the year are also being advised that the Brighton Main Line between Three Bridges, Brighton, Lewes and Hove will be closed on Sunday 1st February, Saturday 21st and 22nd March and Sunday 10th May.

“This is a really important investment in the long-term reliability of the rail infrastructure serving Gatwick Airport, including the North Downs line.

We apologise for any inconvenience that this engineering work may cause customers looking to travel to and from the airport on these dates.

Customers should note there will be no trains for Gatwick Airport running from Farringdon, and only a limited service from London Victoria.

Where trains are not running, replacement transport will be provided, but please allow extra time as journeys by road take longer than the train.”

GWR Station Manager for the North Downs line, Andrew Gallaugher