The Met office have issued an amber weather warning, as part of Storm Ãowyn, with very strong winds expected to continue until the end of the day on Friday 24 January. This will disrupt various routes across the Southern network.
How is it expected to affect Southern services?
An emergency speed restriction of 50mph will be implemented across the East and West Coastway as well as up to Preston Park, for the whole day.
Some services that normally travel between Brighton and Southampton Central will terminate at Bognor Regis.
Journey planners are up to date and we strongly suggest that you check before you travel as your journey may be delayed, cancelled or revised.
Can you tell me more about the incident?
Your journey is likely to be disrupted by strong winds.
We're keeping this message updated with the latest information, so please continue to check back here for updates. Southern are doing everything they can to keep trains moving.
Strong winds cause a number of issues for the railway. Routes are lined by huge numbers of trees, and although these are regularly assessed, even one tree can cause significant disruption when it falls onto the track. Specialist teams will need to attend and make sure it is removed, and that any other nearby trees have not been affected.
We also experience debris being blown onto the line, often from surrounding properties. We encourage neighbours to make sure their property is safe and secure, so that it doesn't end up on the track, where it's likely to be damaged. Again, in these cases, staff will attend and make sure the railway is clear.
Speed restrictions may be put in place to allow drivers to stop in time, should there be obstructions on the railway. On routes with overhead wires, these may also be affected by high wind speeds. Your journey may be delayed, as this means the network has lower capacity, because trains take longer to travel along each section of track.
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.