Lines have reopened following a points failure between Lewes and Haywards Heath via Cooksbridge. Trains between these stations may still be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes.

Disruption is expected until 10:00.

Customer Advice

Trains are now able to run between Lewes and Haywards Heath via Cooksbridge in both directions, and you can travel as normal. Some services which were in the area at the time may have been diverted via Brighton, however no additional trains should need diverting.

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.

You can also use our app to find up-to-date information.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

Earlier today, a points failure was reported at Keymer Junction, and this prevented trains from travelling between Lewes and Haywards Heath via Cooksbridge and Plumpton. As of 09:08, these points have been fixed and trains are now able to run via Cooksbridge in both direction.

Points are moveable sections of track which can send trains onto different routes at junctions. These are part of the signalling system, generally managed by Network Rail.

Points can stop moving correctly for a number of reasons. For example, there may be an obstruction in the moving parts, or the electronic control systems may have developed a fault.

There are various backup systems which allow signallers to try to "set" the points, and in some cases, the points may be available for trains in one of the directions they serve, but not another.

Network Rail will send their specialist Signalling & Telecoms teams to site, and they will set up a safe method of working on the track. To allow staff to access the railway, sometimes we have to stop trains completely, which can lead to trains on other routes also being held at stations or signals.

As soon as it's safe to go on the line, the staff will diagnose the fault and find any quick solutions to resolve it.

Whilst this is being done, we will be monitoring progress closely. At times, replacement parts may be needed, or specialist advice from suppliers, which is why some points failures take longer to resolve than others.

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.