A trespass incident and a fault on a train between Burgess Hill and Brighton means that all lines are disrupted. Trains running between these stations may be delayed by up to 40 minutes.
Disruption is expected until 16:00.
Customer Advice
Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services are delayed in the Hassocks area.
What does this mean for my journey?
Your journey will be extended by up to 40 minutes. Unfortunately, the train involved in the earlier trespassing incident has now developed a fault, which is further delaying services. You may need to change trains or use an alternative mode of transport to reach your destination.
You can use your ticket at no extra cost on:
- Southern and Thameslink services on any reasonable route towards your destination
- Metrbous routes on: 271 for Crawley, Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Preston Park, Brighton 272 for Crawley, Three Bridges, Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Preston Park, Brighton 273 for Crawley, Hassocks, Preston Park and Brighton (Fastest bus to Brighton)
Late-running trains may be revised. This means they may not stop at all of the usual stations, or they may terminate part of the way along their usual routes.
As a result, you may need to change trains to get to your destination.
Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express know this may mean your journey takes longer. However, it does allow them to get their trains and crews back to the right places for the rest of the day's timetable.
They be keeping their departure boards and station announcements up to date, so please keep an eye on the latest information when you're travelling. You can also see the next train from your station here.
Planning your journey:
The live departure boards can be found here.
You can view a live map of the network here.
You can also see the alternative route guide here.
Can you tell me more about the incident?
A trespass incident has been reported in the Hassocks area.
As soon as trespassing is known about, the speed of trains in the area is reduced, as it's not safe to run services at their usual speeds when someone is on the track. Sometimes, we need to stop trains entirely. Emergency services and Network Rail responders will be attending to make sure the person is removed.
Trespassing on the railway is very dangerous. Trains run all day, every day - whether passenger trains, freight trains or specialist engineering work machines. It's not possible to be sure that you can hear when a train is coming, and in many cases, you won't see a train until it is very close to you.
In many areas, trains are powered by an electric third rail, which carries a dangerous electric current. There are also other electrical systems and cables, slippery surfaces, steep drops and other hazards.
Network Rail manage the railway infrastructure, and they're working hard to educate everyone about these dangers and prevent people from accessing the track. You can see their latest safety campaigns here.
As well as the dangers, trespassing on the railway is also illegal, and obstructing the railway can carry severe penalties.
Check before you travel:
You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.
Compensation:
You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.