A fault with the signalling system between Three Bridges and Redhill means some lines are disrupted. Trains running between these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes, cancelled or revised.
Disruption is expected until 10:00.
Advice for Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink customers:
Please check before you travel this morning and extra time to complete your journey.
Services will be delayed by up to 15 minutes when travelling through Gatwick Airport, in the direction towards Redhill.
In this instance, the signalling issue is affecting two platforms known as 'fast line' platforms, and so services will be diverting onto the 'slow' lines, resulting in the above delays.
Currently you can continue to travel using your intended route, but there may be short notice alterations resulting in you needing to change trains en route, or take an earlier or later train than planned and we will let you know here if this is the case.
Please check back here for future updates.
Planning your journey:
Live departure boards can be found here.
You can view a live map of the network here.
You can also see an alternative route guide here.
If you're travelling in the London area, you can plan journeys on alternative routes by using the TfL Journey Planner here.
You can also use the apps to find up-to-date information.
Can you tell me more about the incident?
This part of the network uses track circuits to detect the position of trains. These are electrical systems which monitor whether a train is on a section of track. They operate as part of the signalling system, which is designed to be "fail safe".
When a track circuit fails, the signalling system will interpret this as a train remaining in place, even though there may not be a train present at all, or the previous service may have long since left the area.
As a result, further trains cannot be automatically allowed onto the relevant section of track. Train drivers will be stopped by red signals on approach. They will then get verbal permission from the signaller so that they can proceed, and will run at a heavily-reduced speed as far as the next signal. This is so that the drivers will stop safely if they see anything ahead of them.
In some areas, the sections between signals can be several miles long, so this can result in delays building up. Even with shorter sections of track affected, there would still be a delay of at least a few minutes to each journey.
Track circuit faults can be caused by a number of different issues, including electronic faults or obstructions on the track. Network Rail manage the signalling system, including track circuits, and their staff will be investigating as quickly as possible. We're closely monitoring progress updates, and we'd like to thank you for your patience.
Advice for Great Western Railway customers:
Great Western Railway services will not run between Gatwick Airport and Redhill.
Bus ticket acceptance has been requested between Gatwick Airport and Redhill.
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.