Delays between Lewes and Eastbourne until the end of the day 

Route(s) affected

Between Haywards Heath / Brighton and Eastbourne, between London Victoria and Hastings, and also between Brighton and Ore

Description

A fault with the signalling system between Polegate and Hampden Park means trains have to run at a reduced speed the lines towards Eastbourne. Trains running between Lewes and Eastbourne may be delayed by up to 20 minutes.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer advice:

Delays are expected in the Hampden Park area this evening, affecting trains running towards Eastbourne. Some trains may also be delayed departing Eastbourne as a result.

You can continue to travel using your normal route this evening but please check before you travel and allow plenty of extra time for your journey.

Planning your journey:

You can see a view a live map of the network. This will show where your journey is likely to be affected.

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

Can you tell me more about the incident?

This part of the network uses axle counters to detect trains by tracking their wheels. If one fails, the system may think a train is still there, preventing others from moving forward.

Drivers must stop at red signals and get verbal permission to proceed at a reduced speed, which can cause significant delays, especially in areas with long track sections.

Faults can be caused by electronic issues or debris. Network Rail is investigating, and we’ll share updates as soon as we have them.

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.