Disruption in the Gatwick Airport area expected until 12:00 

Route(s) affected

Gatwick Express between Brighton and London Victoria

Great Western Railway between Gatwick Airport and Reading

Southern between Portsmouth Harbour / Bognor Regis / Eastbourne / Littlehampton / Hastings / Ore and London Victoria, and also between Bognor Regis / Eastbourne / Littlehampton and London Bridge, between Three Bridges / Gatwick Airport and Redhill

Thameslink between Brighton / Horsham / Haywards Heath / Three Bridges and Bedford, between Brighton and Cambridge, between Horsham and Peterborough, and also between Three Bridges and Lodon Bridge

Description

A train hitting an obstruction on the line in the Salfords area means that the line towards Purley is blocked. As a result, trains running to / from and through Gatwick Airport may be cancelled, delayed by up to 40 minutes or revised.

Disruption is expected until 12:00.

A visual disruption map video is available.

Gatwick Express / Southern / Thameslink customer advice:

Delays are expected if you are travelling between Gatwick Airport and Purley. This will affect trains in both directions.

Trains will be delayed, cancelled and subject to last minute service alterations. Some trains will also be starting, terminating or restarting at a different station to normal. Make sure you leave at least an additional 30 minutes to complete your journey.

In addition, no trains will call at Salfords and Earlswood (Surrey) until further notice. You will need to use an alternative route to reach your destination.

Please ensure to check before you travel using our online journey planners and live departure boards for the latest information.

Service Alterations:

Please see below service alterations which will impact your travel:

• Gatwick Express services have been suspended until further notice

• No trains will call at Earlswood and Salfords until further notice. Please use alternative routes to reach your destination. It is recommended you travel to Gatwick as there are trains running from this station

• Thameslink trains which usually run between Three Bridges and Bedford will be suspended until further notice. Alternative Thameslink services between Brighton and Bedford are still available.
  

You can use your ticket to travel at no extra cost:

• Southern or Thameslink services on any reasonable route between Gatwick Airport and East Croydon

• Metrobus routes between Gatwick Airport and Redhill, including:

  • 20 between Three Bridges, Gatwick Airport, and Horley

  • 100 between Gatwick Airport, Horley (Town), Salfords (Town), Earlsowod (Town) and Redhill

  • 400 between Gatwick Airport, Horley, Salfords, Earlswood (Surrey) and Redhill – Hourly service

  • 420 between Gatwick Airport, Salfords, Earlswood (Surrey) and Redhill – Hourly service

  • 460 between Gatwick Airport, Horley, Salfords, Earlswood (Surrey) and Redhill – Hourly service
    

Please note that if your journey includes replacement road transport, your journey may take up to an additional 30 minutes.

Planning your journey:

To help you plan your journey, you can find our alternative route maps on the website.

Please check journey planners and station information boards before you travel and allow extra time to reach your destination.

You can view live departure boards, and you can check a live map to see if your journey has been affected.

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

Can you tell me more about the incident?

There has been a report of a train hitting an obstruction on the railway, which has come to a stand blocking one of the available lines between gatwick Airport and Purley.

Trains through the area can continue to travel using the remaining available lines, however, services may be subject to delays as they begin to queue to pass through the area.

Great Western Railway customer advice:

You may use your ticket on the following services at no extra cost:

• Metrobus on routes 100, 400, 420 and 460 between Gatwick Airport and Redhill

• Thameslink between Gatwick Airport and Redhill

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.