Southern Rail engineering works (October 2026)

• Portsmouth and Havant disruption – Major signalling upgrades around Havant will affect routes between Chichester, Portsmouth Harbour, Petersfield and Southampton, with replacement buses operating during closures.
• London Bridge and South London disruption – Engineering works at London Bridge will affect routes towards East Croydon, Crystal Palace and New Cross Gate, with replacement buses and amended services in operation.
• South Coast services – Works around Southampton and Bournemouth will require replacement buses on some services, particularly during weekend closures.

Buses replace late night trains between Hastings and Ore / Ashford International (28 Sep - 2 Oct)

Engineering work is taking place overnight between Hastings and Ore ending Friday morning, closing all lines.

From approximately 22:30 until the end of service on Monday to Thursday evenings, buses will replace trains between Hastings and Ore and between Hastings and Rye / Ashford International.

Journey times will be increased when using replacement buses.

Engineering work is taking place overnight between Brighton and Worthing ending Friday morning, closing some lines. From approximately 23:30, trains from London Victoria to Worthing will be diverted to terminate at Brighton. Rail replacement buses will operate between Brighton / Hove and Worthing / West Worthing.

The 22:52 Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton train will terminate at Littlehampton. A replacement bus will run from Littlehampton to Brighton, departing at 23:52 and calling at all stations

Journey times will be increased when using replacement buses.

Engineering work is taking place between Shepherds Bush and Watford Junction, closing some lines. From 19:45 on Saturday evening until 13:00 on Sunday, and then from 20:00 until the end of service on Sunday, no Southern trains will run between Shepherds Bush and Watford Junction.

Victoria line between Victoria and Euston

• Circle / Central line between Victoria and Shepherds Bush

• District line between Victoria and West Brompton

• Bakerloo line between Oxford Circus and Harrow & Wealdstone

• Mildmay line between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction (London Overground)

• Lioness line between London Euston and Watford Junction (London Overground)

Until approximately 07:15 Sunday morning, buses will replace trains between Three Bridges and Brighton. Journey times will be increased when using bus services.

Engineering work is taking place in the Lewes area, closing various lines. From approximately 22:00 until the end of service on Monday to Thursday evenings, buses will replace trains between Haywards Heath and Lewes / Polegate / Eastbourne.

Engineering work is taking place in the Selhurst area, closing some lines overnight. The following services will be amended:

Monday to Thursday

The 23:40 London Victoria to Sutton service will be diverted after Selhurst, and will terminate at East Croydon. A rail replacement bus service will run between East Croydon and Sutton via West Croydon, calling at all stations.

Tuesday to Friday

The 00:01 London Bridge to Selhurst service will divert after Tulse Hill and terminate at Norwood Junction. A rail replacement bus service will run between Tulse Hill and Selhurst via Streatham Common, calling at all stations.

Engineering work is taking place overnight in the Redhill area, closing some lines. From approximately 23:00 until the end of service on Monday to Thursday evenings, buses will replace trains between Redhill and Reigate. Additionally, the following service are affected:

• The 22:28 London Victoria to Reigate service will terminate at Redhill, a rail replacement bus service will run between Redhill and Reigate

• The 22:58 Redhill to Tonbridge service will not run, a replacement bus will run between Redhill and Tonbridge

• The 23:36 Tonbridge to Redhill service will not run, a replacement bus will run between Tonbridge and Redhill

• The 00:08 London Victoria to Three Bridges (Tuesday to Friday) service will not call at Coulsdon South, Merstham or Redhill. A replacement bus will run between Purley and Three Bridges calling at stations via Redhill

• The 00:28 Redhill to Tonbridge service (Tuesday to Friday) will not run, a replacement bus will run between Redhill and Tonbridge

Engineering work is taking place between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction, closing various lines after 19:45 on Saturday and all day on Sunday.

Please use alternative London Overground trains, at no extra cost between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction.

Or alternatively, Southern trains between Clapham Junction and London Victoria, London Underground between London Victoria and London Euston and London Northwestern Railway or London Overground trains between London Euston and Watford Junction at no extra cost.

Direct Southern trains will run between London Victoria and Brighton, diverted to run via Horsham, Littlehampton and Hove, with extended journey times.

Replacement buses will run between:

• Three Bridges and Preston Park

• Three Bridges and Lewes

• Balcombe and Brighton

• Haywards Heath and Plumpton

• Plumpton and Lewes

• Three Bridges and Brighton (early morning / late night only when direct trains via Littlehampton are not running)

From approximately 01:00 until approximately 07:00 on Sunday morning, trains between London Victoria and Three Bridges / Brighton will be diverted between Clapham Junction and East Croydon and run to an amended timetable with extended journey times.

All day on Sunday, trains which usually run between London Victoria and Sutton / Epsom Downs will be diverted to run between London Victoria and East Croydon.

Trains which usually run between London Victoria and London Bridge will not run.

Trains that usually run between London Victoria and Reigate will be amended to run between Reigate and Redhill only. For travel between London and Reigate, you will need to change trains at Redhill.

Engineering work is taking place in the Balham / Clapham Junction areas, closing some lines on Monday to Thursday evenings. As a result:

• The 22:10 East Croydon to Watford Junction train will terminate at Shepherds Bush. You can use alternative London Overground trains between Shepherds Bush and Clapham Junction at no extra cost

• The 23:07 Epsom Downs to London Victoria train will not call at Battersea Park. For London Victoria you should travel to Clapham Junction, then change for a train towards London Victoria. For Battersea Park should travel to London Victoria, then catch a train back to Battersea Park

• The 23:42 Watford Junction to Clapham Junction train will not run. You can use alternative London Overground or London Northwestern Railway trains at no extra cost

• The 23:58 London Victoria to Streatham Hill train will terminate at Balham. A replacement bus will run from Balham to Streatham Hill

Engineering work is taking place in the Three Bridges area, closing some lines overnight from Monday evening until Thursday morning. As a result:

Monday to Wednesday

The 23:25 London Victoria to Brighton train will be diverted after Haywards Heath to run to Brighton via Lewes, and will not call at Burgess Hill or Hassocks. The train will arrive at Brighton later than usual. A replacement bus will run from Haywards Heath to Brighton, calling at Burgess Hill and Hassocks.

Tuesday to Thursday

The 00:02 London Victoria to Worthing train will terminate at Three Bridges. A replacement bus will run from Three Bridges to Brighton. Additional trains will run from Brighton to Worthing

The 01:08 Haywards Heath to Eastbourne train will not run. A replacement bus will run from Haywards Heath to Lewes, and from Lewes to Eastbourne.

Engineering work is taking place between Purley and Caterham / Tattenham Corner, closing all lines late on Monday to Thursday evenings. After approximately 23:55 each night until the end of service, buses will replace trains between East Croydon and Caterham, and between Purley and Tattenham Corner.

As a result, the following trains will not run and will be replaced by buses:

• 22:58 Tonbridge to Redhill

• 23:00 Redhill to Tonbridge

• 23:36 Tonbridge to Redhill

• 00:28 (on Saturday morning)

Engineering work is taking place between Shepherds Bush and Clapham Junction, closing some lines on Friday night.

As a result, the 23:42 Watford Junction to Clapham Junction train will run up to 10 minutes later than usual between Shepherds Bush and Clapham Junction.

Engineering work is taking place in the London Victoria area, closing some lines on Saturday and all lines on Sunday.

Saturday 17 Oct

Trains between London Victoria and Clapham Junction / East Croydon will run a reduced service. Trains between London Victoria and London Bridge will not run.

Trains from Battersea Park to London Victoria will not run. You should travel via Clapham Junction towards London Victoria instead. For Battersea Park, you should travel to London Victoria then catch the next train back to Battersea Park.

Trains between London Victoria and Littlehampton / Eastbourne / Ore will be diverted to to run between London Bridge and Littlehampton / Eastbourne / Ore instead. Trains between London Victoria and Reigate will run between Redhill and Reigate only.

It is advised to use Southern or Thameslink trains for travel between London stations and Redhill. You can use your paper ticket at no extra cost on the following services:

• London Underground Jubilee line between London Bridge and Canada Water

• London Overground between Canada Water and Crystal Palace

Sunday 18 Oct

Trains that usually run to / from London Victoria will be diverted to run to / from London Bridge instead, with an amended and reduced timetable.

Rail replacement buses will run between Clapham Junction and East Croydon, calling at Wandsworth Common, Balham, Streatham Common, Norbury, Thornton Heath, Selhurst and West Croydon.

Your paper rail ticket will be accepted at no extra cost, between Clapham Junction and London Victoria, on London Underground to Euston and on London Northwestern Railway or London Overground trains between London Euston and Watford Junction.

National Rail ticket acceptance at no extra cost between:

Euston – Watford Junction (London Northwestern Railway)

Paper ticket acceptance will be in place at no extra cost on London Underground / Overground trains:

• Victoria – Euston (Victoria line)

• Victoria – Shepherds Bush (Circle and Central line)

• Victoria – West Brompton (District line)

• Oxford Circus – Harrow & Wealdstone (Bakerloo line)

• Clapham Junction – Willesden Junction (Mildmay line)

• Euston – Watford Junction (Lioness line)

Journey times will be increased when using alternative routes.

Engineering work is taking place between Redhill and Salfords, closing some lines. As a result, all day on Sunday no trains will call at Earlswood (Surrey) or Salfords. You can use your ticket at no extra cost on local Metrobus services between Redhill and Three Bridges.

Engineering work is taking place between Littlehampton and Barnham, closing all lines. Buses will replace trains between Littlehampton and Barnham / Bognor Regis / Chichester.

Tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on South Western Railway services between Havant / Fratton and Southampton Central. Journey times will be increased when using replacement buses.

Engineering work is taking place overnight at various locations in the Haywards Heath area, closing some lines.

On Monday to Wednesday evenings, the 23:25 London Victoria to Brighton train will be diverted after Haywards Heath running via a different route to Brighton, it will not call at Burgess Hill or Hassocks. The train will arrive at Brighton later than usual. A replacement bus will run from Haywards Heath to Brighton calling at Burgess Hill and Hassocks.

From approximately 00:30 until approximately 05:30 on Tuesday to Friday mornings, buses will replace trains between Three Bridges and Brighton.

Engineering work is taking place overnight in the Hurst Green area, closing some lines. The following services will be affected:

• The 22:07 London Bridge to Uckfield train will terminate at Oxted. Replacement buses will run from Oxted to Crowborough / Uckfield

• The 22:33 Uckfield to London Bridge train will start from Oxted. Replacement buses will run from Uckfield to Crowborough and from Crowborough to East Croydon

• The 22:50 London Victoria to East Grinstead train will terminate at Oxted. Replacement buses will run from Oxted to East Grinstead

• The 23:06 East Grinstead to London Victoria train will not run. A replacement bus will run from East Grinstead to East Croydon

• The 23:07 London Bridge to Uckfield train will terminate at Oxted. Replacement buses will run from Oxted to Crowborough / Uckfield

• The 23:20 London Victoria to East Grinstead train will terminate at Oxted. Replacement buses will run from Oxted to East Grinstead

Journey times will be increased when using replacement buses.

Engineering work is taking place overnight in the Chichester area, closing some lines. The 22:35 London Victoria to Chichester train will terminate at Barnham. A replacement bus will run from Barnham to Chichester.

The 23:18 London Bridge to Chichester train will terminate at Littlehampton. A replacement bus will run from Littlehampton to Chichester.

At the start of service on Tuesday to Friday mornings, the 04:55 Chichester to Brighton train will start from Barnham. A connecting bus will depart earlier from Chichester to connect with this train.

Journey times will be increased when using replacement buses.

Engineering work is taking place overnight between Lewes and Seaford, closing all lines. After 23:00, buses will replace trains between Lewes and Seaford. Journey times will be increased when using replacement buses.

Engineering work is taking place between Haywards Heath and Brighton, closing some lines. Until approximately 05:00 on Tuesday to Thursday mornings, buses will replace trains between Three Bridges and Brighton.

Engineering work is taking place in the Southampton Central area, closing all lines. No trains will run between Romsey / Eastleigh / Fareham and Southampton Central / Bournemouth all weekend.

Trains between Brighton and Southampton Central will be diverted to run between Brighton and Portsmouth & Southsea, calling additionally at Fratton. Rail replacement buses will run between Havant and Southampton Central.

You can use your tickets at no extra cost on the following services:

• London Overground between London Euston and Watford Junction

• London Northwestern Railway between London Euston and Watford Junction

• Southern trains between Clapham Junction and London Victoria

• London Underground between:

• Victoria and Euston (Victoria line)

• Victoria and Shepherds Bush (Circle and Central line)

• Victoria and West Brompton (District line)

• Oxford Circus and Harrow & Wealdstone (Bakerloo line)

Buses replace trains between Three Bridges and Horsham on Sunday 25 October.

Engineering work is taking place in the Crystal Palace area, closing some lines. All day on Sunday, no trains will run between Balham and Crystal Palace / Norwood Junction / Sydenham.

Trains between London Victoria and London Bridge will not run. You can use your tickets at no extra cost on the following services:

• London Bus routes 201, 249, 255, 315, 322, 417 and 432 between Balham and Crystal Palace

• London Bus route 157 between Crystal Palace and Anerley / West Croydon via Norwood Junction (paper tickets only)

• London Underground between Canada Water and London Bridge (Jubilee line)

• London Overground between West Croydon and Canada Water

Additionally, the 00:40 London Victoria to Norwood Junction service will terminate at Balham. A replacement bus service will run from Balham to Norwood Junction.

Engineering work is taking place in the London Bridge area, closing some lines overnight from Monday evening until Friday morning.

Monday to Thursday

The 23:20 London Victoria to London Bridge train will depart later at 23:22 and run non-stop from Streatham Hill to London Bridge. A replacement bus will run from Streatham Hill to London Bridge, calling at stations via Sydenham.

The 23:58 London Bridge to Streatham Hill train will not run. A replacement bus will run from London Bridge to Streatham Hill via Sydenham, calling at normal stations.

Tuesday to Friday

The 00:01 London Bridge to Selhurst train will depart later than usual at 00:04.

The 00:35 London Bridge to East Croydon train will be amended to start at 00:37 and will be diverted, and will only call at Norwood Junction. A replacement bus will run from London Bridge to East Croydon via Sydenham.

The work is part of the Havant re-signalling programme, the next phase of the wider Portsmouth Direct Upgrade. The Havant re-signalling programme will replace ageing signalling and interlocking equipment in the Havant area and modernise the way the railway is controlled.

During the October closure, Network Rail teams will carry out a wide range of signalling and infrastructure work, including installing new signalling equipment, cables and trackside technology.

Tickets will also be accepted at no extra cost on London Underground Jubilee line trains between London Bridge and Canada Water, and on London Overground trains between Canada Water and New Cross Gate.

Tickets will also be accepted at no extra cost on Southeastern trains between London Victoria and Penge East / Nunhead.

When there are Southern engineering works taking place, you can still get to where you need to go using alternative services. Southern put on a wide range of replacement routes and schedules to cover passengers affected by the disruptions. You can expect a mix of the following: 

• Rail replacement buses between closed stations.

• Split services (for example, trains only running between London and East Croydon rather than the full route to the coast).

• Diversions via alternative routes.

• Reduced frequency.

• Altered first and last train times.

While you won't need to cancel your plans, just keep in mind that Southern's planned engineering works and replacement services can add to your overall journey time, particularly on routes towards Brighton, Eastbourne and the South Coast.

Here are a few ways to stay ahead of it all and keep your journey as smooth as possible:

• Leave extra time for getting to Gatwick Airport. Engineering work around East Croydon and the Brighton Main Line often affects trains to Gatwick. If you're catching a flight, build in a generous buffer so you're not cutting it fine at the terminal.
• Avoid tight onward travel plans. If you're on a replacement bus or diverted service, journey times can vary. Give yourself a cushion between arriving and needing to be somewhere.
• Travel earlier in the day on weekends. Replacement buses tend to be quieter earlier in the morning, and you'll have more flexibility if there are any unexpected delays.
• Book after the amended timetables are confirmed. Southern usually publishes amended timetables around 12 weeks ahead of the engineering work. Booking after these are live means you'll see the correct train times from the start.
• Consider an overnight stay for Brighton trips. If engineering work is adding a lot of time to your journey, it might be worth turning a day trip into a weekend getaway. Trip.com has a wide range of hotels in Brighton and across the South Coast.

Southern's network runs from London Victoria and London Bridge through Surrey, Sussex and parts of Hampshire, so engineering work in certain areas can have a knock-on effect across the wider area. Here are the most common areas affected:

Are Southern tickets valid on rail replacement buses?

How far in advance are engineering works announced?

Southern rail engineer works are typically confirmed around 12 weeks in advance. When booking on Trip.com, you'll always see the latest schedules and updated timetables. 

Do engineering works often affect Gatwick Airport trains?

Can I get a refund if I decide not to travel?

If engineering work significantly changes your journey, for example, adding a lot of extra time or requiring a bus replacement, you may be entitled to a refund on your ticket. Just be sure to check the terms of your fare type when you book.

Are London Victoria closures common during bank holidays?

It's rare for London Victoria to completely close, but don't rule it out over the Easter and the May bank holidays. When Victoria is closed for engineering work, most Southern services will either run from London Bridge or start from East Croydon. There are always alternative routes in place, and your ticket will be accepted on other operators and the Tube at no extra cost.