Take extra time to plan your Christmas train journeys this year as upgrade work takes place over the festive period.

More than 150 railway workers and engineers will upgrade the railway between London, Gatwick Airport and the south coast this Christmas as one of the biggest investments ever undertaken on the Brighton mainline is completed by Network Rail.

The work means there will be increases in journey times of up to 90 minutes between London and Gatwick Airport.

As a result of the work, the Gatwick Express will not operate from 25 December to 1 January. On Boxing Day, Southern will run services between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport (via East Grinstead where buses continue to Gatwick.)

From 27 December to 1 January, Southern will operate services between London Victoria and Gatwick. Normal Gatwick Express services will resume on 2 January.

From 27 December to 1 January, First Capital Connect services to and from London Bridge will not run between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport, with alternative routes adding 70-90 minutes to passengers' journeys.

Keith Jipps, First Capital Connect's customer service director, said: “Our passengers must allow 70-90 minutes longer to complete their journey during this work, which is especially important if catching a flight.

“We won't have trains between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport; instead we have arranged for FCC tickets to be accepted on Southern services between East Croydon and East Grinstead from where there will be a frequent replacement bus link to and from the airport."

Information is widely available in stations and passengers are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk/christmas before travelling.

 

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