Lines reopened: disruption between Purley / Redhill and Gatwick Airport expected until 22:30 

Route(s) affected

between Purley and Gatwick Airport

Description

Lines have now reopened following a fault on a train between Purley / Redhill and Gatwick Airport. However, whilst service recovers, trains running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised.

This is expected until 22:30.

Gatwick Express / Southern / Thameslink customer advice:

This is mainly affecting the routes from Purley to Gatwick Airport. You can continue to use your planned route to travel but trains have been delayed by at least 30 minutes. We recommend allowing extra time to complete your journey.

Late-running trains may be revised. This means they may not stop at all of the usual stations, or they may terminate part of the way along their usual routes.

As a result, you may need to change trains to get to your destination.

This may mean your journey takes longer, however, it does allow trains and crews to get back to the right places for the rest of the days timetable.

Departure boards and station announcements will be kept up to date, so please keep an eye on the latest information when you're travelling.

Your ticket will continue to be accepted at no extra cost on:

• Alternative Thameslink and Southern services between London and Brighton.

• Metrobus route 200 for Horsham, Littlehaven, Faygate (Town), [Bewbush], Ifield, Gatwick Airport

• London Underground between London stations

Planning your journey:

Live departure boards can be viewed.

You can view a live map of the network.

You can also see an alternative route guide.

If you're travelling in the London area, you can plan journeys on alternative routes by using the TfL Journey Planner.

The Gatwick Express / Southern / Thameslink apps will also help you plan your journey.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

There has been a report of a fault on a train, and this is now causing delays to other services travelling through this area.

Normally, when a fault on a train occurs, crews will gather details and report this to the Fleet teams. If possible, the defect will be fixed promptly, allowing the train to get on the way. These initial steps are designed to take around 10 minutes.

However, sometimes the fault cannot be fixed in this time frame. In this case, wherever possible, the train will be taken out of use and sent to a depot. This does take additional time, as the crew will need to make sure that everyone's managed to leave the train.

If this can't be done either, specialist engineers will be sent to site, known as "fitters". Fitters are based in key locations around the network, 24 hours a day, and they are able to attend anywhere on rail routes. Once they are on site, progress and updates will be monitored to ensure that the railway can be reopened as promptly as possible.

Until the defective train can be moved, attempts will be made to find a way to get other trains around the issue. This depends how many lines are available, and whether the signalling equipment is set up to allow trains to be routed around the problem. This is more often the case on major routes, but not always. Network Rail's controllers decide how many more trains can be sent through the area, and if this isn't possible, will see what alternative solutions are available to help you continue your journey.

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.