Thameslink engineering works (November 2026)

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• London King's Cross–Peterborough (28–30 Nov): A major weekend closure means no trains between King's Cross and Peterborough, or between Moorgate / St Pancras and Letchworth Garden City / Peterborough. Extensive rail replacement buses will operate, with shuttle trains between Letchworth Garden City, Cambridge, Ely and King's Lynn.
• London Bridge (31 Oct–1 Nov and 15 Nov): Most Thameslink services will be diverted and will not call at London Bridge, with revised timetables and longer journeys. On 15 November, Rainham services will run only between Plumstead and Rainham.
• Haywards Heath–Brighton (1 and 29 Nov): Full or partial closures affect Thameslink services, with replacement buses and amended services. On 1 November, Southern trains will provide an alternative route via Hove; on 29 November, buses replace trains between Three Bridges and Brighton.
• Stevenage / Hitchin–Cambridge and Peterborough (8–9 and 14–15 Nov): Weekend and overnight closures mean replacement buses across several sections, including Stevenage–Letchworth Garden City / Cambridge and routes towards Peterborough. Some trains will also be unable to call at Hitchin or Arlesey.
• Stevenage / Hitchin–Royston / Cambridge (9–13 Nov): Overnight buses replace trains from around 23:55 to 05:05, with additional early-morning changes to Peterborough–King's Cross services.
• South London and Kent routes (2–29 Nov): Repeated overnight and early-morning closures affect Sutton, Sevenoaks, Bromley South, Gravesend, Strood and Gillingham. Changes include replacement buses, diverted services and some trains starting or terminating at alternative stations.
• Redhill and Purley routes (2–5 and 9–12, 23–27, 30 Nov–4 Dec): Overnight works lead to amended timetables, diversions and replacement buses. Some services will not call at Earlswood, Salfords, Coulsdon South, Merstham or Redhill.
• Finsbury Park–Peterborough (31 Oct–1 Nov and 22 Nov): Early-morning and late-night closures mean replacement buses on sections towards Stevenage, Letchworth Garden City and Peterborough, with some services starting or terminating at alternative stations.

Engineering work is taking place between Haywards Heath and Brighton, closing some lines. All day on Sunday, no Thameslink trains will run between Haywards Heath and Brighton, and a reduced service will run between Three Bridges and Haywards Heath. Your tickets will be accepted on Southern trains at no extra cost between Three Bridges / Haywards Heath and Brighton. These trains will divert via Hove, with extended journey times.

Your tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on Southeastern rail replacement buses between Dartford and Gillingham, and on Southeastern trains between Gillingham and Rainham.

Engineering work is taking place in the Dartford area, closing some lines. As a result, the 01:24 Dartford to Gillingham (Kent) train service will not run and will be replaced by a bus.

Additionally, the 23:11 Horsham to Hitchin service will terminate at Finsbury Park. A rail replacement bus service will run between Finsbury Park and Peterborough. From the start of Sunday service until approximately 08:20, buses will replace trains between Potters Bar / Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City / St Neots / Peterborough.

Engineering work is taking place between Brighton and Haywards Heath, closing various lines early on Monday morning. As a result:

• The 04:12 Brighton to Bedford train will start from Haywards Heath at 04:26. An earlier rail replacement bus will run from Brighton at 03:41 to Haywards Heath, connecting with the amended train

• The 04:58 Gatwick Airport to Brighton train will not run. An earlier rail replacement bus will operate in its place, departing from Gatwick Airport at 04:04

Engineering work is taking place between London Blackfriars and Herne Hill, closing various lines overnight from Monday evening until Friday morning.

Monday to Thursday:

Tuesday to Friday:

You can use paper rail tickets at no extra cost on London Buses to complete your journey.

Engineering work is taking place in the Earlswood (Surrey) / Salfords area, closing some lines overnight from Monday evening until Friday morning. After 22:30 each night, no trains will call at Earlswood (Surrey) or Salfords. Replacement buses will run between Redhill and Horley via Earlswood (Surrey) / Salfords.

Engineering work is taking place in the Norwood Junction / East Croydon area, closing some lines on Sunday. Thameslink trains between London and Horsham / Brighton will have extended journey times.

Engineering work is taking place between London Bridge and Herne Hill, closing some lines. As a result, the 08:40 and 09:10 London Bridge to Sutton trains will be diverted to start from London Blackfriars (at the same times), and will call additionally at Elephant & Castle, Loughborough Junction and Herne Hill, and will not call at London Bridge or Peckham Rye.

Engineering work is taking place between Hertford North / Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City, closing all lines.

Sunday

Buses replace trains between:

• Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City / Cambridge

• Stevenage and Biggleswade, calling at Hitchin and Arlesey

• Hertford North and Stevenage

Monday

The 04:24 Stevenage to London Kings Cross service will start from Hertford North at 04:36. A rail replacement bus will run from Stevenage at 04:04 to Hertford North, connecting with the train.

Engineering work is taking place in the Purley area, closing some lines overnight. From 23:00 until the end of service each night, Thameslink services running through the Purley area will run to a revised timetable, with extended journey times.

Engineering work is taking place between Nunhead and Shortlands, closing some lines on Monday to Thursday evenings. As a result:

• The 23:22 Sevenoaks to London Blackfriars service will divert via Herne Hill. A rail replacement bus will run from Bromley South to London Blackfriars

• The 23:46 London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks service will be diverted via Herne Hill. A replacement bus will run from Herne Hill to Sevenoaks

Rail replacement buses will not call at Nunhead or Ravensbourne. For these stations, paper rail tickets will be accepted on London Buses at no extra cost.

Engineering work is taking place between Stevenage / Hitchin and Royston / Cambridge, closing all lines overnight from Monday evening until Friday morning.

From approximately 23:55 on Monday to Thursday evenings until approximately 05:05 on Tuesday to Friday mornings, buses replace trains between Hitchin / Stevenage and Royston / Cambridge.

Additionally on Tuesday to Friday mornings, the 03:23 Peterborough to London Kings Cross service will not be able to call at Hitchin. A rail replacement bus will run between Biggleswade and Stevenage to provide connections.

Engineering work is taking place between Hertford North / Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City, closing all lines.

Sunday

No trains will run between Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City / Cambridge. Trains between London Kings Cross and Peterborough will be unable to call at Hitchin or Arlesey.

Buses replace trains between:

• Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City / Cambridge

• Stevenage and Biggleswade, calling at Hitchin and Arlesey

• Hertford North and Stevenage

Monday

The 03:23 Peterborough to London Kings Cross service will not be able to call at Arlesey or Hitchin. A rail replacement bus will run between Biggleswade and Stevenage to provide connections.

The 04:24 Stevenage to London Kings Cross service will start from Hertford North at 04:36. A rail replacement bus will run from Stevenage at 04:04 to Hertford North, connecting with the train.

Engineering work is taking place in the Purley area, closing some lines overnight. From 23:00 until the end of service each night, Thameslink services running through the Purley area will run to a revised timetable, with extended journey times.

Engineering work is taking place between Nunhead and Shortlands, closing some lines on Monday to Thursday evenings.

As a result:

• The 23:22 Sevenoaks to London Blackfriars service will divert via Herne Hill. A rail replacement bus will run from Bromley South to London Blackfriars

• The 23:46 London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks service will be diverted via Herne Hill. A replacement bus will run from Herne Hill to Sevenoaks

Rail replacement buses will not call at Nunhead or Ravensbourne. For these stations, paper rail tickets will be accepted on London Buses at no extra cost.

Additionally on Tuesday to Friday mornings, the 03:23 Peterborough to London Kings Cross service will not be able to call at Hitchin. A rail replacement bus will run between Biggleswade and Stevenage to provide connections.

Engineering work is taking place between Hertford North / Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City, closing all lines.

Sunday

No trains will run between Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City / Cambridge. Trains between London Kings Cross and Peterborough will be unable to call at Hitchin or Arlesey. Buses replace trains between:

• Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City / Cambridge

• Stevenage and Biggleswade, calling at Hitchin and Arlesey

• Hertford North and Stevenage

Monday

The 04:24 Stevenage to London Kings Cross service will start from Hertford North at 04:36. A rail replacement bus will run from Stevenage at 04:04 to Hertford North, connecting with the train.

Engineering work is taking place between Gravesend and Gillingham (Kent), closing all lines early on Tuesday to Friday mornings. Between approximately 00:25 and 04:25 on Tuesday to Friday mornings, buses will replace Thameslink trains between Gravesend and Gillingham.

If you're travelling to / from Hornsey or Harringay, paper rail tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on London Buses to complete your journey. Paper rail tickets will also be accepted at no extra cost on London Buses between Moorgate and Finsbury Park, and on London Underground between Bounds Green, Finsbury Park and London Kings Cross / Moorgate.

Before approximately 08:20, buses will replace trains between Potters Bar / Hertford North and Stevenage / Letchworth Garden City / Peterborough.

Saturday

After approximately 23:50 on Saturday until the end of service, buses will replace trains between Finsbury Park / Potters Bar / Hertford North and Stevenage / Letchworth Garden City / Peterborough.

Sunday

Before approximately 07:50, Northbound Hertford North / Potters Bar services will start from Hornsey / Alexandra Palace. Rail replacement buses will run non-stop between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace.

Engineering work is taking place in the London Bridge area, closing many of the lines used by Thameslink. As a result, most Thameslink trains will be diverted and will not call at London Bridge.

Thameslink trains to / from Rainham (Kent) will only run between Plumstead and Rainham (Kent). Your tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on Southeastern services between London and Plumstead.

All other Thameslink trains which usually run via London Bridge will be diverted between London Blackfriars and East Croydon, not calling at London Bridge, and will run to a revised timetable with extended journey times. Paper rail tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on:

• London Underground services between Blackfriars and London Bridge / Cannon Street

• Elizabeth line trains between Farringdon and Abbey Wood

• London Buses between Kings Cross St Pancras and London Bridge

Engineering work is taking place between Dartford and Strood, closing all lines late on Monday to Thursday evenings. From approximately 23:55 until the end of service each night, buses will replace trains between Dartford and Strood / Gillingham (Kent).

Engineering work is taking place between Three Bridges and Brighton, closing all lines very early on Tuesday to Friday mornings. From approximately 00:25 until 05:05 on Tuesday to Thursday mornings and 01:25 and 05:05 on Friday morning, buses replace Thameslink trains between Three Bridges and Brighton. Please be aware that this work affects some trains that run late on Monday to Thursday evenings.

Engineering work is taking place between Herne Hill and Sutton, closing all lines. From approximately 00:25 until approximately 05:35 on Tuesday to Friday mornings, Thameslink trains will not run between Herne Hill and Sutton.

Your tickets will be accepted on Southern trains, and paper rail tickets will be accepted on London Buses / London Underground to complete your journey.

Engineering work is taking place in the Cricklewood area, closing some lines connecting the Thameslink train depot with the railway. As a result, after 23:15 on Saturday until the end of service, a reduced service will run between St Albans City and Sutton.

If you are travelling to / from stations north of London Blackfriars, you should use alternative Thameslink services to reach your destination. If you are travelling to / from stations south of London Blackfriars, paper rail tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on London Buses to complete your journey.

Between 02:00 and 07:55, buses will replace trains between Welwyn Garden City and Letchworth Garden City / Stevenage. Between 02:00 and 09:30, buses will replace trains between Stevenage and Peterborough.

Please note that this work affects some trains running at the end of Saturday's service and into Sunday morning.

Engineering work is taking place between Finsbury Park and London Kings Cross, closing all lines. Before 07:15, no trains will run between Finsbury Park and London Kings Cross. You can use paper rail tickets at no extra cost on London Underground services to travel between these stations.

Your tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on Southern rail replacement buses between London Bridge and Tulse Hill.

Engineering work is taking place in the Rochester area, closing all lines. No Thameslink trains will run between Gravesend and Rainham (Kent).

You can use your tickets at no extra cost on Southeastern trains between Gravesend and Strood, and on Southeastern replacement buses between Strood and Rainham (Kent). A few early morning / late night replacement buses will run between Gravesend and Gillingham (Kent).

Engineering work is taking place in the Arlesey area, closing some lines on Sunday evening. As a result, the 22:55 Peterborough to London Kings Cross service will not call at Arlesey. Rail replacement buses will run between Hitchin and Biggleswade.

Between 02:00 and 07:55, buses will replace trains between Welwyn Garden City and Letchworth Garden City / Stevenage. Between 02:00 and 09:30, buses will replace trains between Stevenage and Peterborough.

Engineering work is taking place between Haywards Heath and Brighton, closing all lines overnight from Monday evening until Friday morning. Buses replace trains between Haywards Heath and Brighton.

Monday to Thursday

The 23:44 Bedford to Brighton service will terminate at Haywards Heath. A replacement bus will run from Haywards Heath to Brighton.

Tuesday to Friday

The 04:12 Brighton to Bedford service will start from Haywards Heath at 04:26. Replacement buses will run from Brighton to Haywards Heath: 

• One will depart Brighton earlier at 03:41 and run to Haywards Heath to connect with the train

• One will depart Brighton at 04:12 and run to Haywards Heath

Engineering work is taking place in the Arlesey area, closing some lines on Monday and Tuesday mornings, and on Monday evening.

Monday morning

Until approximately 05:50 on Monday morning:

• Southbound trains will be unable to call at Arlesey before approximately 04:40

• Northbound trains will be unable to call at Arlesey before approximately 05:50

Rail replacement buses will run between Biggleswade and Hitchin.

Monday evening / Tuesday morning

Between approximately 23:30 on Monday evening until approximately 05:50 on Tuesday morning:

• Southbound trains will be unable to call at Arlesey between approximately 23:30 and 04:40

• Northbound trains will be unable to call at Arlesey between approximately 01:40 and 05:50

Rail replacement buses will run between Biggleswade and Hitchin.

Engineering work is taking place between Purley and Horley, closing all lines via Redhill. From approximately 23:59 on Monday to Thursday evenings until approximately 05:00 on Tuesday to Friday mornings, trains will be diverted and will not call at Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill, Earlswood or Salfords.

Replacement buses will run between Gatwick Airport and East Croydon / between Purley and Horley to provide connections.

Engineering work is taking place between Brighton and Haywards Heath, closing some lines overnight. The 04:12 Brighton to Bedford service will start from Haywards Heath at 04:26.

No trains will run between Moorgate / London St Pancras International / London Kings Cross and Letchworth Garden City / Peterborough all weekend.

A shuttle train service will run between Letchworth Garden City and Cambridge / Ely / Kings Lynn.

Rail replacement buses will run between:

• Bedford and Peterborough via St Neots / Huntingdon

• Hitchin and Peterborough, calling at all stations

• Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City

• Alexandra Palace and Stevenage via Hertford North, calling at all stations

• St Albans City and Stevenage, calling at Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North and Knebworth

• Alexandra Palace and Welwyn Garden City, calling at New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Cockfosters (London Underground), Potters Bar, Brookmans Park, Welham Green and Hatfield

• Cockfosters (London Underground) and Potters Bar via Hadley Wood

• Central line between Bank and Liverpool Street

• Piccadilly line between Kings Cross St Pancras and Cockfosters

• Northern line between Moorgate and High Barnet

• Northern line between Kings Cross St Pancras and Bank

• Victoria line between Kings Cross St Pancras and Tottenham Hale

And also on London Buses:

• Routes 107 / 307 / 384 between New Barnet and High Barnet

• Route 21 between Moorgate and Drayton Park

• Routes 29 / N29 / 91 / N91 / 141 / 144 / W3 between London Kings Cross / Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace

Engineering work is taking place between Slade Green / Sidcup and Gravesend, closing all lines. No trains will run between Plumstead and Gravesend. A revised Thameslink service will run between Kentish Town and Plumstead, and between Gravesend and Rainham.

You can use your ticket at no extra cost on Southeastern trains between London Bridge and Slade Green, and on Southeastern rail replacement buses between Slade Green and Gravesend.

Engineering work is taking place between East Croydon and Norwood Junction, closing some lines. From the start of service until approximately 08:00, Thameslink services will be diverted between East Croydon and London Bridge, with extended journey times. Thameslink trains will not call at Norwood Junction. Paper rail tickets will be accepted on London Bus route 157 for travel to / from Norwood Junction.

Paper rail tickets will be accepted on London Underground services between London Victoria and London Blackfriars, and on London Bus route 185 between London Victoria and Denmark Hill.

Engineering work is taking place between Three Bridges and Brighton, closing all lines. Buses will replace trains between Three Bridges and Brighton all day. A reduced Thameslink service will run between Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges.

Engineering work is taking place in the Redhill area, closing some lines. Until approximately 05:00, Thameslink trains will be diverted and will not call at Redhill. Rail replacement buses will run between Purley and Horley / Three Bridges.

Engineering work is taking place in the Sutton (London) area, closing some lines overnight. The following services are affected:

• The 22:37 St Albans City to Sutton (London) service will terminate at Wimbledon

• The 22:54 Luton to Sutton (London) service will terminate at Herne Hill

Paper rail tickets will be accepted on London Buses between Herne Hill, Wimbledon and Sutton (London).

All Thameslink engineering works are planned and published well in advance, so you'll always have time to adjust your plans. Here's what you might come across and how to deal with it:

• Rail replacement buses. These run in place of trains on affected sections of the route - mostly outside central London, where the Tube doesn't reach. These will pick you up and drop you off at or near the stations, and your train ticket is valid on them at no extra cost. Just allow a bit of extra time, as buses take longer than the train.
• Shortened or truncated services. Some trains will only run part of their normal route. For example, a train that usually goes all the way to Sevenoaks might turn around at Orpington instead. Replacement buses or alternative operators usually cover the rest.
• Split services. During bigger engineering works, the Thameslink line through central London can be split into separate northern and southern sections. You'd travel on one section and then use the Tube or buses to get across the city in the middle. Your ticket covers these alternatives.
• Timetable changes. Even where trains are running, times might be different from the regular schedule. A few services could leave earlier or later than usual, so be sure to double-check your departure time on the day.

Here are a few tips to keep your journey on track:

• Leave yourself extra time, especially if you're heading to Gatwick Airport. A replacement bus or diverted service can add 20–30 minutes to your trip.
• Avoid tight connections through central London during Thameslink engineering works. If you need to cross London, build in a buffer so you're not racing between stations.
• Plan Gatwick journeys carefully. If you're flying and the Brighton main line has engineering works, check your options the day before. Sometimes it's quicker to travel via East Croydon on a Southern service.
• Look at alternative operators. Your Thameslink ticket is often valid onSoutheastern, Southern andGreat Northern trains during engineering works, so check those timetables too.
• Be flexible with your travel date if you can. Disruption tends to be heaviest on Sundays, as this is when there are fewer commuters using the trains. If you can shift your day trip to Saturday or Monday instead, you'll often have a smoother ride.

You'll usually find that most Thameslink engineering work happens in a few hotspots along the network. Here's where to keep an eye on:

• London St Pancras International. As one of the main Thameslink hubs, any work near St Pancras can affect services from Bedford, Luton and Cambridge heading into London.
• The central London line (St Pancras –Blackfriars –London Bridge). This is the tunnel section that links the northern and southern halves of the Thameslink network. When work takes place here, the line gets split into two - trains run on either side but can't go through the middle. Your ticket will be valid on the Underground and London Buses to bridge the gap.
• The East Croydon corridor. East Croydon is one of the busiest stations on the network, and work here can affect trains heading to Brighton, Gatwick Airport and the Sussex coast. If you're flying from Gatwick, always double-check your route when there's engineering work in this area.
• The Bedford route. Services from Bedford, Luton and St Albans into London can be affected by overnight or early-morning work north of the city. This usually means buses replacing trains for the first or last few services of the day.
• The Brighton main line. Work between Three Bridges and Brighton can occasionally pop up on bank holiday weekends. Replacement buses run between the two stations, and your ticket is valid on them.

Are Thameslink tickets valid on replacement buses?

Yes, your Thameslink ticket is valid on all rail replacement buses at no extra cost. In many cases, your ticket will also be accepted on other train operators like Southeastern and Southern, plus on London Buses, the Underground and Trams, where specified for reasonable alternative routes.

What happens if I miss a flight due to engineering works?

How far in advance are engineering works announced?

Most planned engineering works are confirmed around 12 weeks in advance. It's a good idea to check a few days before you travel, as details can occasionally be updated closer to the date. You'll always see the latest timetables on Trip.com.

Do central London closures happen often?

They tend to crop up a few times a year, mostly over bank holiday weekends when fewer commuters are using the line. When the St Pancras to London Bridge tunnel closes, Thameslink runs amended services on either side, and your ticket covers the Tube and buses through central London.

Are late-night trains affected more frequently?

Yes, often a lot of engineering work takes place overnight, so the last few services of the day are more likely to see changes - things like trains ending their journey a stop or two early, or buses replacing the final departures. If you're travelling late, check the timetable for that specific evening to make sure you can get home with minimal disruption.