Poor weather to affect Southern and Thameslink services until 15:00 

Route(s) affected

Various routes on the Southern and Thameslink network

Description

Heavy rain flooding the railway on various routes on the Southern and Thameslink network means trains will run at reduced speed. Trains across the whole network may be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised.

Disruption is expected until 15:00.

Customer advice:

We've received a number of reports of flooding to the railway, which is resulting in trains having to run at a reduced speed through different parts of the network.

At present, we are aware of the following incidents and impact:

• Due to the line being flooded in the Polegate area earlier today, delays of around 10-15 minutes may still be possible between Eastbourne and Lewes - trains can now run normally again the Polegate area, but residual delays, alterations and cancellations are all still possible

• Due to the line being flooded in the Hassocks area, delays of around 5-10 minutes are expected between Brighton and Haywards Heath

In addition to delays, some trains may be subject to short notice alterations and cancellations - this means that some services may have cancelled stops, will terminate and restart at a different station to normal, or will be cancelled completely.

For most journeys, you can travel using your normal route, but please allow some extra time for your journey. If your planned train is affected by short notice changes, then you may need to take a different train than planned, change trains en route or use an alternative route instead.

Tickets will be accepted for no extra cost on the following:

• Southern and Thameslink services via any reasonable route including via Brighton and Haywards Heath

Planning your journey:

You can see the live departure boards, and view a live map of the network.

You can also view an alternative route guide.

You can also use the Southern and Thameslink apps to find up-to-date information.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

Heavy rain could lead to flooding, which can cause issues for railway infrastructure. If water is fast-moving, it can dislodge the ballast that supports the track. Ballast is the term we use for the small granite stones which you see under the rails. As ballast is used to ensure the railway track has a stable base, it must be in a safe condition.

There are also potential issues for the electric third rail that powers many trains, as well as the signalling system.

To help reduce disruption caused by flooding, Network Rail ensures pumps and flood barriers are in place, and Southern and Thameslink also jointly plan for the impact of severe weather. Control room staff monitor reports of excess water and ensure staff are sent to deal with this as quickly as possible.

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.