Major disruption at Gatwick Airport expected until 10:00 

Route(s) affected

All routes to / from / through Gatwick Airport

Description

A trespass incident between Gatwick Airport and Purley means all lines are blocked. As a result, trains running to, from or through Gatwick Airport may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised.

Major disruption is expected until 10:00.

Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink customer advice:

If you are travelling to / from Gatwick airport this morning, services are being disrupted and you will need to use an alternative route to complete your journey. This is due to a trespass incident which is currently ongoing.

Some services will be subject to cancellations, delays and last minute alternations. Please allow an additional 60 minutes to complete your journey.

For the latest information, check station screens and use online journey planners.

Changes to our services:

• Thameslink services between Cambridge and Brighton will be suspended until further notice

• Southern services between Eastbourne / Ore and London Victoria will be suspended until further notice

• Gatwick Express services between Brighton and London Victoria will be suspended until further notice

• Southern services between Littlehampton and London Victoria will now terminate and restart at Haywards Heath

Please check before you travel today and allow additional time to complete your journey.

Ticket acceptance:

Your ticket may be used at no extra cost on the following Metrobus routes:

• Route 400: East Grinstead, Three Bridges, Crawley, Gatwick Airport, Horley, Salfords, Earlswood, Redhill (Nutfield, Godstone, Caterham)

• Route 460: Crawley, Gatwick Airport, Horley, Salfords, Earlswood, Redhill (Bus Station), Reigate, (Kingswood (15 minute walk via Bonsor Drive) Tadworth, Tattenham Corner, Epsom)

• Route 272: Brighton, Preston Park, Hassocks, Burgess Hill, Wivelsfield, Haywards Heath, Three Bridges, Crawley

If you're waiting on a train which is delayed between stations:

If your train is delayed between stations, please remain where you are and listen to announcements, or speak to staff for further information. We'll get you moving as soon as possible. We're aware of your location, and our teams will be doing everything they can to help you continue your journey.

Please don't leave the train unless you are asked to do so. Other trains may still be moving in the area, and the track is also a very hazardous environment. In areas where the trains are powered by an electric third rail, this usually stays live and dangerous during incidents, and looks the same as other rails.

Planning your journey:

For help planning your journey, check live departure boards, view a live network map or see alternative route guides.

If you’re travelling within London, you can use the TfL Journey Planner.

Stay up to date on the move with Southern’s WhatsApp channel. Live updates are available Monday to Friday, 07:00–21:00.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

A trespass incident has been reported in the Gatwick Airport area.

As soon as trespassing is known about, the speed of trains in the area is reduced, as it's not safe to run services at their usual speeds when someone is on the track. Sometimes, we need to stop trains entirely. Emergency services and Network Rail responders will be attending to make sure the person is removed.

Trespassing on the railway is very dangerous. Trains run all day, every day - whether passenger trains, freight trains or specialist engineering work machines. It's not possible to be sure that you can hear when a train is coming, and in many cases, you won't see a train until it is very close to you.

In many areas, trains are powered by an electric third rail, which carries a dangerous electric current. There are also other electrical systems and cables, slippery surfaces, steep drops and other hazards.

As well as the dangers, trespassing on the railway is also illegal, and obstructing the railway can carry severe penalties.

Great Western Railway customer advice:

If your train is cancelled, you may travel on either of the two services before, or two services after, your original train. If these are peak services or less flexible, you can still travel with your original ticket, at no extra cost.

You can use your ticket at no extra cost on Thameslink services between Gatwick Airport and Redhill.

Whilst there is no formal ticket acceptance in place, Metrobus routes 100, 400, 420 and 460 operate between Gatwick Airport and Redhill bus station. You should buy a ticket on the bus and send it to GWR for a refund.

Ticket flexibility:

If your train is cancelled, you will be able to travel on an alternative service operated by any other participating train company, either two hours before or two hours after the original departure time of the cancelled service, in order to reach your destination.

If you decide not to travel or cannot complete your journey due to cancellations, you are entitled to a full refund from your original point of sale.

For further information and guidance please contact your train company or speak to a member of railway staff.

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail 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.