Southern Rail lost property: How to get your missing item back?

Daniel Clark

Published: May 2, 2025

Updated: Oct 16, 2026

Southern Rail lost property: How to get your missing item back?

Have you lost or misplaced your possessions while travelling on a Southern Rail train or in a Southern Rail station? Stay calm! We know you will want to get it back as quickly as possible, and the good news is that most Southern Rail lost property does ultimately get back to its owner. This guide will explain how to make a report for lost and found with Southern Rail and how you can retrieve your possessions.

How do I get my lost item back from Southern Rail?

If you have lost property on a Southern train or at a station, you will need to submit a lost property claim with the operator.

Find the Southern lost property webform here.

When filling in the details of your missing item(s), Southern says that the more information you can provide, the more likely it is that they will find your item, so be as specific as possible when describing your possessions. Include details of colour, size and make, as well as noting any other distinctive features.

After Southern has received your lost property report, its team will verify if it has an item matching your description in storage. Where successful, you should expect to hear back within a few days; if you haven’t heard back after 14 days, it is unlikely that your property has been found, though it is a good idea to check your spam folder in case your email may have gone astray.

Photo by Michael Garnett

Where can I pick up my lost item from Southern Rail?

For items that are successfully located, Southern Rail will email you to arrange collection from its lost property office.

The Southern lost property service is managed by the Excess Baggage Company, so you will likely be asked to collect from London Victoria station (open from 09.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday).

If you cannot attend in person to collect your lost property, it is also possible to request delivery for the item(s) for an additional charge. Alternatively, you can nominate a person to collect the item(s) on your behalf.

Southern Rail lost property contact number

If you need to speak with Southern Rail about your lost property after submitting the webform or if you have any questions about filing your report, the Southern Rail lost property contact number is 03451 27 29 20.

Southern phone lines are open from 07:00 to 20:00, and the operator aims to answer all calls within 5 minutes.

Alternatively, you can write to Southern about lost property cases at the following address:

Govia Thameslink Railway

PO BOX 8644

Derby

DE1 9RQ.

Other Southern Rail lost property information

Southern Rail will store lost property for up to 90 days, so don’t delay in picking your item(s) up. If this time elapses, the operator may give unclaimed item(s) to charity or dispose of them.
You should only visit the lost and found Southern collection office after you receive confirmation that you can collect your item(s).
Perishables will usually be disposed of upon recovery, while special conditions exist for reclaiming a mobile phone (you will need to provide the IMEI number).
Southern cannot store lost passports, as these must be sent directly to HM Passport Office, as per government guidance.