Major works to shut one of UK's busiest rail lines

4 hours ago

Daniel SextonSouth East

Parts of the Brighton Main Line will be closed from 13 to 21 February next year

Getty Images A group of Network Rail engineers dressed in bright orange protective clothing work on the railway tracks at Three Bridges railway station in Crawley, UK. — Parts of the Brighton Main Line will be closed from 13 to 21 February next year

Major engineering works to improve the safety and reliability of one of the UK's busiest stretches of railway are planned, Network Rail has said.

The works are part of a significant investment, including maintenance of the historic Ouse Valley viaduct and structural works at a tunnel to prevent flooding.

Network Rail said the lines between Three Bridges and Brighton/Lewes would be closed from 13 to 21 February next year.

Parts of the Brighton Main Line have already been closed across weekends in early 2026 to install new rails at Purley, to install wheel timbers near Brighton Road bridge at Coulsdon South and for earthwork near Merstham to prevent landslips in the future.

The closure will mean less weekend closures in the future, Network Rail said.

It will be during the February half-term in 2027, where less people travel on the railway and some people might be able to work more flexibly, it added.

Buses will replace trains on all routes, but Southern Rail said that direct trains would still run between Brighton and London, via an alternative route through Littlehampton, so journey times will be extended.

Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink will all be affected by the closure

Getty Images A white Thameslink training runs from Bedford to Brighton stops at Brent Cross West station. — Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink will all be affected by the closure

Works during the closure include new rails being installed at Plumpton and Haywards Heath, stabilisation works near Haywards Heath to prevent landslips and repairs to drainage systems at Stone Hall Bridge.

Passengers are also advised that significant engineering works are to take place in the Redhill area across the Christmas period and into the New Year.

Journey planners for both closures will be updated closer to the time, but they have been announced to give passengers travelling as much notice as possible, Network Rail said.

Jenny Saunders, customer service director for Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink, said: "This major work next year is crucial to keeping services reliable for our Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink customers.

"Trains will be diverted and buses will replace services on affected routes for nine days, so we're asking passengers to save the dates in their diaries."

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