Disruption between Sydenham and New Cross Gate expected until 14:00 

Route(s) affected

between Sydenham and New Cross Gate

Description

A fault with the signalling system in the Honor Oak Park area means that some lines will be blocked. As a result of this, trains running between Sydenham and New Cross Gate may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Disruption is expected until 14:00.

A visual disruption map video is available.

Customer advice:

The fault with the signalling system is affecting trains operating through the Sydenham Corridor between East Croydon and New Cross Gate. As a result, some services are unable to operate, whilst others are being diverted away from the affected route.

Passengers travelling between London Bridge, New Cross Gate, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and destinations further south should expect delays, cancellations and extended journey times. You should allow an additional 45 minutes extra to complete your journey today.

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

Changes to services:

Services that have currently been suspended until further notice:

• Thameslink Services between Cambridge and Brighton

• Thameslink Services between Bedford and East Grinstead

• Southern Services between Norwood Junction and London Bridge

• Southern Services between London Bridge and London Victoria

• Southern Services between Epsom and London Bridge

Great Northern services that normally run between Cambridge and London Kings Cross will now call additionally at Ashwell & Morden until further notice. Customers travelling to or from Ashwell & Morden should use these amended services and allow additional time for their journeys.

Please check station information screens and journey planners before travelling as service patterns are subject to change at short notice.

Travel advice:

If you are travelling towards London Bridge

Passengers should use available Thameslink services between Three Bridges and Bedford which are being diverted via Herne Hill. Southern services to London Victoria can be used with onward connections via London Underground on any reasonable route.

If you are travelling towards East Croydon

Passengers are advised to use available Southern services from London Victoria where possible. You can also use London Overground services between London Bridge and West Croydon to complete your journey. Passengers currently travelling via the Sydenham Corridor will experience delays of at least 45 minutes and should allow extra time onto their journey.

If you are travelling towards Gatwick Airport

You should travel via London Victoria and board the first available Southern service to Gatwick Airport.

Customers are advised to allow additional time for airport journeys.

If you are travelling towards Brighton / Cambridge

Passengers for these stations will need to change at London St Pancras International for additional Great Northern and Thameslink services to reach their destination.

If you are travelling towards East Grinstead

Services between Bedford and East Grinstead have been suspended. Passengers should via London Victoria for additional Southern services between East Croydon and East Grinstead.

If you are travelling towards Epsom

Services between Epsom and London Bridge have been suspended. Passengers should use alternative services via Sutton where available.

Ticket Acceptance:

Your ticket may be used at no additional cost on the following:

• Alternative Thameslink services between East Grinstead, East Croydon, London and Bedford

• Alternative Southern services between Brighton, East Grinstead, East Croydon and London

• Great Northern Services between Moorgate, London Kings Cross and Stevenage

• London Underground services on any reasonable route

• London Overground between West Croydon and London

• London Buses between East Croydon and London Bridge

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?

Track circuits are part of the signalling system and are used to detect where trains are on the railway. If one fails, the signalling system may show that a section of track is occupied even when there isn’t a train there. This means signals protecting that section will remain at red and trains cannot proceed normally.

Trains may still be able to run, but drivers will need to stop before the affected section and request verbal permission from the signaller before continuing past the red signal. They must then travel at a reduced speed so they can stop safely should they see anything ahead of them.

This takes longer than usual and can cause trains to queue behind one another. In severe cases, services may need to be cancelled, revised or diverted to prevent delays from building up across the wider network.

Network Rail signalling specialists are investigating the fault and will work to repair the affected equipment. Once the fault has been fixed and the signalling system is working normally, trains will be able to run at normal speeds again and the scheduled service can begin to recover.

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.