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30/04/2022

A fault with the signalling system at Peckham Rye means fewer trains are able to run on the line towards Sutton (Surrey).

Train services running through this station may be diverted between London Bridge and Sutton Surrey. Disruption is expected until 23:15.

Customer Advice

Most Southern services from London Bridge towards Sutton, Dorking and Horsham will be diverted today.

These trains will now run non-stop from London Bridge to Sutton, and will not call at Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge or Carshalton.

Trains in the opposite direction (from Horsham/Dorking towards London Bridge) will not be affected.

Alternative options for your journey:

To travel between London Bridge and Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge or Carshalton:

You'll need to take a Southern service from London Bridge to Streatham, changing there for a Thameslink service to your destination. We expect your journey will take at least 25 minutes longer than usual.

To travel from Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge or Carshalton to stations between Ewell East and Horsham:

You'll need to take a Thameslink service as far as Sutton, changing there for a Southern service to your destination. We expect your journey will take at least 15-20 minutes longer than usual.

Ticket acceptance on alternative trains:

Southern tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on Thameslink trains through the Mitcham area.

Can you tell me more about the incident?​​​​​​​

In January this year, a problem was identified with the visibility of a signal on one of the lines at Peckham Rye. Drivers may not be able to see the signal in time to react to it, so engineers have carried out a safety modification to the control system. This ensures trains only approach when the line is clear, so drivers will not see an indication which means they have to stop at this location.

During engineering works on the route to & from London Victoria, some trains will be diverted to run to & from London Bridge instead. This is occurring this weekend, with trains to & from Dorking and Horsham amongst those affected. When leaving London Bridge, these trains were due to travel through Peckham Rye.

Because of the safety changes to the signalling system, the railway is operating at a lower capacity. As trains wouldn't be able to stop in all the normal places, we have to divide the railway into longer sections of track, and in turn, fewer slots in the timetable. This is not a problem when we use the normal schedules for this route. However, because extra trains were due to be diverted, more trains than usual were due to run through Peckham Rye.

As a result, the trains from London Bridge towards Sutton, Dorking and Horsham have to be diverted, and they will run through Sydenham. They are unable to re-join their normal route to serve Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge or Carshalton, so they will run non-stop as far as Sutton.

Unfortunately, this does mean you will have to change trains to complete some journeys. Southern are sorry for any disruption caused to your journey.

Network Rail engineers will be working tonight to reposition the signal and make sure the railway can accommodate the right number of trains. This has taken several months to plan, as they have required specialist parts to be manufactured and delivered to site.

Affected operators
Southern
Nationalrail link
Last updated: 30/04/22 - 03:01