Commuters trying to get to work this morning between East Croydon, Purley and Gatwick Airport were confronted with some delays, diversions and cancellations, as Network Rail’s extensive weekend engineering works over-ran.
Making tracks: Network Rail’s project on the Brighton main line over-ran thoday
There would usually be four lines available on the Brighton main line, one of the busiest railway routes in the country. But by 6am this morning, only two lines were back in service because of the engineering project. Network Rail’s works are due to continue through most of this year.
Last weekend was the second of three scheduled engineering works when there were no rail services between East Croydon and Gatwick, with more of the same due to take place on January 24 to 25.
According to a statement from managers at Govia Thameslink Railway, all four lines had returned to service just ahead of the morning rush hour, “so the disruption [was] significantly less than was expected yesterday”.
GTR operates the Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Southern rail services.
The Brighton to Cambridge Thameslink service is still not operating due to over-running engineering work on the East Coast main line. “Otherwise services are running mostly OK south of London,” GTR said this morning.
The delayed re-opening of the lines will have impacted rail services from Victoria and London Bridge, Redhill, Tonbridge, and all the way to the south coast towns such as Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Eastbourne, with replacement bus services being laid on.
Anyone who had their journey to work disrupted today is being advised to claim for Delay Repay.
The works being carried out over the next five months include:
- Track renewal: installing new rails and conductor rail, plus refurbishing switches and crossings to improve performance with new rail at Purley, between Earlswood and Horley and between Merstham and Coulsdon South.
- New electric conductor rail will be installed between Redhill and Reigate and Stoats Nest Junction, between Purley and Coulsdon South, will also be refurbished.
- Earthworks: strengthening a cutting north of Merstham to provide stable foundations and prevent landslips.
- Drainage: repairing the drainage systems along three miles of track at Caterham to manage water effectively and reduce potential delays.
- Bridges: installing wheel timbers – long blocks of wood that support the track – at the intersect bridge near Godstone and the Brighton Road bridge at Coulsdon South to maintain structural integrity.
- Access points: Adding a new road-rail access point near Purley for construction vehicles to access the track and make repairs.
Even then, not all the works required will be completed. Network Rail and Southern intend to defer further weekend closures over the busier summer months, but say, ominously, “there will be some weekend closures in the latter half 2026”.
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