Suspected Defects Cause Major Rail Disruption Across Sussex (Tuesday)

There's major disruption across the Southern Rail network today (Tuesday), after two reports of suspected defects on the tracks.

The rail operator is carrying out a safety inspection of the track between Bexhill and Lewes, meaning all lines via Eastbourne are disrupted.

Consequently, trains between these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Disruption is expected until around 3pm.

It's after a driver reported that the track may be defective at a level crossing between Polegate and Berwick, at around 10.07am.

Another train was asked to run at a very slow speed through the area, so the driver could check the track.

It was confirmed that engineers would need to attend the site, and this was arranged for approximately 11:15.

Until an inspection takes place, the line will remain closed in the direction from Eastbourne towards Lewes.

At 11:09, information of another possible track defect at Normans Bay was reported, affecting the line towards Eastbourne, which is causing further significant disruption.

Staff are working to arrange as many alternative travel options as possible before the lines can reopen.

Southern services on all routes between Ashford International, Hastings, Eastbourne, Lewes and Brighton are majorly affected.

The line from Hampden Park towards Lewes is closed due to an urgent safety inspection of a reported fault with the track in the Berwick area.

The line from Bexhill towards Eastbourne is also now closed to a further inspection of the track in the Normans Bay area.

Routes affected, according to Southern Rail:

Southern services cannot run from:

• Eastbourne towards Lewes - this affects trains on this route towards either London Victoria or Brighton. This means there is no train service in this direction at Polegate, Berwick or Glynde.
• Bexhill towards Eastbourne - this affects trains from Ashford International / Ore / Hastings towards Eastbourne. This means there is no train service in this direction at Bexhill, Collington, Cooden Beach, Normans Bay, Pevensey Bay or Pevensey & Westham.

Because trains and crews are no longer in the correct places, there is also severe disruption from Lewes towards Eastbourne, and from Eastbourne towards Hastings and Ashford International.

Ticket acceptance:

Southern tickets are being accepted at no extra cost on Brighton & Hove Buses between Eastbourne / Lewes and Brighton.

Not all buses run on exactly the same routes as trains, so people are urged to plan their journey with the bus company.

Southeastern services between Hastings, St Leonards Warrior Square and Central London can also be used.

Replacement buses:

Shuttle services are available between Lewes, Polegate, Hampden Park and Eastbourne.

The bus operators in this area are Regency Coaches and Southern Transit.

Full-size buses cannot call directly at Glynde or Berwick, so a minibus shuttle service will operate between Lewes, Glynde and Berwick, in both directions.

Customers at Lewes, are asked to speak to staff for information.

Customers at Glynde or Berwick, are asked to use the Emergency button on the station Help Point for information.

Southern have requested further replacement bus services to run between Eastbourne, Hastings and Ashford International.

Buses will be controlled by local staff, but information will also be put on the departure screens at stations if they are running to specific times.

Check before you travel:
You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner