Track works: one mile of track near Redhill Station will be replaced over two weeks at Christmas time. More works are scheduled in Sussex in February
No trains from Coulsdon South over Christmas and New Year, as Network Rail replaces one mile of track
Anyone wanting to travel by train south of Croydon, Purley or Coulsdon, whether to the south coast or via Redhill Station, can expect several weeks of disruption and bus replacement services, spread over the course of three months, beginning at the station in Surrey for two weeks over Christmas and the New Year.
There will then be further engineering works affecting Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express passengers travelling between Three Bridges and Brighton over the February half-term.
The Redhill Station closure, which impacts all journeys from Coulsdon South, rated little more than a footnote in a Network Rail announcement this morning, but the plans are liable to affect tens of thousands of commuters, as well as those hoping to make Christmas shopping trips or visit relatives over the festive period.
“Passengers using trains that run through Redhill Station are being asked to plan ahead and check before they travel over Christmas and the New Year when more than a mile of track is replaced in the area,” Network Rail says.
Bus station: there will be only replacement services at Coulsdon South from Dec 20 to Jan 3
Trains will continue to run through on the fast lines, but services that pass through Redhill Station itself will be replaced by buses from Sunday December 20. The disruption will continue up to and including Sunday January 3.
This means that Coulsdon South, Earlswood, Merstham and Nutfield will have no train services over that period, and will rely on bus replacement services.
There will also be rail replacement services between Purley, Redhill, Reigate and Horley. Some Southern trains between Victoria and the Sussex coast will call additionally at Purley and Horley.
Southern services between Redhill and Tonbridge will run between Edenbridge and Tonbridge only.
There will be no Thameslink trains between Purley and Horley via Redhill.
“On all days except Friday December 25 and Saturday December 26, rail replacement buses will run between Purley and Horley, calling at Purley, Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords and Horley,” are the glad tidings.
“Parking will also be severely restricted at Redhill Station to make way for the work site,” Network Rail warns.
“The work, part of a £31.7million investment by Network Rail in the Southern region’s railway network this Christmas.” It involves installing new track switches and crossings “to boost long-term reliability”.
“By doing the work in one go over the holiday period, it will save many weekends of disruptive closures,” Network Rail says.
“We recognise this period includes Christmas shopping and people travelling to visit family and friends, which is why we’re asking everyone, and not just regular commuters travelling through Redhill, to plan their journey and check before they travel,” said a Network Rail spokesperson.
There’s more coming down the line in February.
“Major engineering work” will close a section on the busy Brighton Main Line from Saturday February 13 to Sunday February 21.
The official reasons provided should be familiar enough: “The work forms part of a significant investment to improve the reliability and safety of this vital route, which is among the most complex and intensively used in the country.”
The Main Line works will include:
- Track renewal: New rails at Plumpton and Preston Park plus renewed track and switches and crossings at Keymer Junction near Wivelsfield to help cut delays and boost performance. The closure will affect Plumpton racecourse’s Valentines race day on February 15.
- Earthworks: Strengthening and stabilisation works at Haywards Heath cutting and the Balcombe Stamford rock cutting to reduce the risk of landslips and rock falls
- Tunnels: Structural works at Balcombe Tunnel to ensure continued safe operation and install of new rails through the Clayton Tunnel
- Electrical: New conductor rail between the Clayton Tunnel and Preston Park. The conductor rail, also known as the third rail, allows us to supply power to the trains
- Level crossings: new signalling and renewal of the level crossings at Spatham Lane near Westmeston, and at Hamsey in East Sussex
Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said: “The Brighton Main Line is one of the busiest rail corridors in the country, with complex and intensively used infrastructure. This work is vital to reduce faults, improve journey reliability and keep services running safely for years to come.
“We know closing the railway is an inconvenience, but the extended closure over February half-term 2027 allows us to deliver a huge volume of work at once, avoiding repeated disruption across multiple weekends or during the busy summer season.”
Let the train take the strain: there will be significant journey disruption from December to February
During the nine-day closure, rail replacement buses will run between Three Bridges and Brighton or Lewes via Haywards Heath and other intermediate stations.
There be a direct train service between Victoria and Brighton, but it will be diverted to use an alternative route via Horsham and Littlehampton, making journeys longer. “Customers travelling between the Brighton and Hove areas and Gatwick Airport or London are encouraged to use this diverted train service rather than replacement buses.”
More information about the work that is being carried out, the impact on journeys and plans for keeping people moving during the work, will be available on the Network Rail and train operators’ websites in the coming weeks.
- This is, of course, all in addition to the month-long road closure of the A213 in Croydon for the replacement of the railway bridge by Selhurst Station, due to be in effects from December 12 until January 10.
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