Passengers in Sussex are advised to only travel if necessary, over Early May Bank Holiday weekend

Network Rail has issued the following press release about the impact of engineering work on train services over the Bank Holiday weekend:

• Passengers should only travel if they have to over the Early May Bank Holiday
• Network Rail’s engineering works will affect some routes while a reduced timetable continues to operate for those who rely on rail services

Network Rail is advising passengers to continue following Government advice and only use public transport if they need to. Vital engineering works will affect train services between Three Bridges and Brighton/Lewes this weekend. A reduced timetable continues to operate for those who need to use rail services.

This programme of work will allow Network Rail to deliver more reliable infrastructure, improved facilities and better services for passengers. The rail industry has operated a reduced number of services for passengers who absolutely need to travel during the coronavirus lockdown, while ensuring rail freight services can continue to move critical goods such as medicine and food to hospitals and supermarkets.

Shaun King, route director for Sussex said:

"I know passengers feel we’re always working on the railway, but the work we do is even more vital right now because we must continue delivering critical goods like food and medicine, while providing a reliable railway for people who can’t work from home.

“The only way we can keep doing that reliably and safely is by constantly improving and renewing the railway. Train operators will be running as many trains as they can, but I would urge passengers to only travel if you have to, and check your journey ahead of time.

Chris Fowler, Customer Services Director for Southern and Gatwick Express, said:

“We join Network Rail in thanking those who need to travel over the weekend for their dedication and patience, with extra thanks to those in the Lewes area where services have been affected on consecutive weekends. This essential work will help improve the reliability and capacity of our passengers’ train services.

“We ask those who need to travel to use the train service to Brighton via Horsham and Littlehampton, or the rail replacement buses between Three Bridges and Brighton or between Three Bridges and Lewes, via Plumpton and Cooksbridge.

“If you do need to travel, check before you set off, and please continue to follow Government advice.”

In line with Government advice, Network Rail continues to proceed with engineering work that is required to maintain a safe and operational railway.

Upgrade work taking place across Sussex from Saturday 9 May to Sunday 10 May:

• Network Rail will be carrying out engineering work at Cooksbridge level crossing and at Clayton Tunnel, near Hassocks on the Brighton Main Line. Rail replacement buses will be running between Three Bridges/Lewes/Brighton.
• Southern services between London Victoria and Brighton will run via Horsham with extended journey times. Services between London Victoria and Bognor Regis / Portsmouth / Southampton will run to a revised timetable. Trains will also run to a revised timetable between Brighton and Littlehampton / Portsmouth / Southampton.
• Buses replace Thameslink services between Three Bridges and Brighton. Trains between Bedford and Brighton will be subject to extended journey times and will not stop at London Bridge on Sunday 10 May. Customers wishing to travel to London Bridge on Thameslink should change at East Croydon or travel to London Blackfriars.

A breakdown of how some journeys will be affected can be found by visiting nationalrail.co.uk/May and following #MayBHworks on Twitter.

Notes to Editors

Safety is our priority so at a local level, we are prioritising inspections and patrols, and the work that comes up as a result of those patrols. Where we have to renew track because it is life-expired (too old to continue), we are doing that too. As kit gets older, it needs more work to keep it going, which will be harder to achieve with COVID-19.

The Government has classed Network Rail as a critical service so our engineers and suppliers will still be working and travelling to work. However, we are looking after our people - we’ve hired extra vans so people can be socially distant, and we’re asking teams on site to keep their distance too. We’re also following rules on social isolation and home working where possible.

There are jobs where it is not possible to keep two meters distance and we are working with our teams to see if we can either stop those jobs or come up with ways to do those jobs safely (including minimising time and proximity).

The most important thing is that we keep the railway running for critical workers and that when this crisis is over, it’s in good shape to play a massive role in rebuilding our economy.

We encourage everyone to play their part by not travelling unless it’s absolutely necessary and hope to welcome passengers back on our railway in future.