Disruption between Eastbourne and Lewes / Hastings expected until 23:00 

Route(s) affected

Between Ashford International and Eastbourne, between Ore and Brighton, and also between Eastbourne and Brighton / London Victoria

Description

A number of incidents today between Eastbourne and Lewes / Hastings means that all lines are disrupted.

Trains running between these stations will be cancelled, delayed or revised.

This is expected until 23:00.

Customer advice:

Earlier this evening, a faulty train at Hampden Park was blocking the line used by Southern services departing from Eastbourne.

This has now moved, but this incident has now resulted in severe disruption on all routes in this area.

In addition, there have also been further delays after earlier problems with the level crossings at Pevensey & Westham and Berwick.

Whilst there is not an exact estimate for the delays, your journey is likely to take around 30-45 minutes longer than usual.

Southern expect some cancellations and service changes at short notice, so please listen carefully to announcements and check station screens when travelling.

If there is an alternative route available in your area, we recommend you use this, if there's a long wait until the next train. However, do be aware that using a different route will also take longer.

You can use your tickets at no extra cost on:

• Southeastern train services between:

  • Hastings, St Leonards Warrior Square, Tonbridge and London Bridge

  • Tonbridge and Ashford International
    

(You can travel between Hastings and Ashford International with a change of trains at Tonbridge, taking around 60 minutes longer than usual.)

• Stagecoach Buses between:

  • Polegate and Eastbourne

  • Eastbourne and Hastings

  • Hastings and Rye

  • Ham Street and Ashford International
    

(Please note there is no local bus service between Rye, Appledore and Ham Street.)

• Brighton & Hove Buses on routes 12, 12A, 12X and 28 between Brighton and Eastbourne (please note that many of these buses serve different stations compared to your normal rail route, and in particular, most buses on these routes do not serve the Lewes area)

To travel between Hastings, Eastbourne or Lewes and London, you can travel via Brighton, and your ticket will be accepted at no extra cost on Gatwick Express or Thameslink services between Brighton and London.

Planning your journey:

Live departure boards can be viewed, as well as a live map of the network.

You can also see an alternative route guide.

You can also use the Southern app to find up-to-date information.

For journeys with no alternative route:

If there is a long wait until the next train and there is no alternative route, please speak to staff, if available, or use the station Help Points if there are no staff.

Southern will do their best to arrange replacement road transport, but this may take some time to arrive.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

Southern have been working with local staff and colleagues at Network Rail to deal with a faulty train at Hampden Park. Unfortunately, although the train has now been moved, this has caused severe congestion.

Southern are now working hard to get back to the timetable, but this won't be an immediate process, especially as the situation has been worsened by level crossing issues in the Pevensey & Westham and Berwick areas earlier.

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.

Compensation:

You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.