A fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport means some lines are closed. As a result, trains may cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised.

Disruption is expected until 19:15.

Customer Advice:

One of the lines between Purley and Gatwick Airport - the 'fast' line - is blocked due to a fault with the signalling system.

Trains can continue to run through the area using the remaining 'stopping' line, however, this will lead to significant delays as trains begin to queue to pass over the affected section of track.

If you are travelling now, your journey may take up to 45 minutes longer than usual, and you may need to change trains or use an alternative route.

Our train service will be amended as follows:

• Gatwick Express services will not run.
• Southern services between London Victoria and Reigate will not run.
• Southern services between London Victoria and Littlehampton will not run
• Fewer trains than usual will run between Three Bridges and London / Bedford.
• Fewer trains than usual will run between Redhill and Tonbridge
• Trains from London Victoria to Littlehampton, and Eastbourne / Ore will continue to run as scheduled.

Passengers at London Victoria travelling to Brighton should use an alternative service to East Croydon, then change there for trains to Brighton.

You can use your ticket to travel at no extra cost on:

• Alternative Southern and Thameslink trains, on any route towards your destination, including trains from London Bridge and services from East Croydon.
• Great Western Railway services between Gatwick Airport and Redhill - please note these services may also be disrupted
• Metrobus services between Three Bridges and Merstham including routes:
  • 3 for Gatwick, Three Bridges – roughly every 45 minutes
  • 20 for Three Bridges, Gatwick Airport, Horley
  • 100 for Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Gatwick, Crawley, Three Bridges
  • 400 for Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Gatwick, Crawley, Three Bridges
  • 430/435 for Redhill, Reigate, Earlswood, Merstham
  • 460 for Reigate, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Gatwick, Crawley

Please check journey planners and station information boards before you travel, and allow extra time to reach your destination.

To help you plan your journey, you can find our alternative route maps on our website here, and you can check our live map here to see if your journey has been affected.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

Trains will be disrupted due to a fault with a signal in the Purley area.

Railway signals are designed to warn drivers that they have to stop because the system can't yet confirm that the route ahead is clear. In most places, the signalling system will show a green light, or aspect, when the track is clear for a long distance ahead, and drivers will then be shown one or two yellow lights to warn them when they are approaching a red signal. This means that they can anticipate the amount of braking that's required to stop before they reach another train or any form of problem on the line. In this case, as the signal isn't reliably showing the necessary indications to drivers, they'll need to take extra safety precautions to travel through the area.

The signalling system is maintained by Network Rail, and Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink are working closely with them to diagnose the fault and make sure it is fixed as quickly as possible. Until this is done, they'll be closely monitoring the train service and doing their best to keep to the timetable.

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.