Limited trains in Sussex for five days
Various strike action means many services won't be running here
Many train stations across Sussex will be effectively closed until Sunday (5th January) due to industrial action, by different unions.
No services will run through stations including Chichester, Barnham, Ford, Arundel, Horsham, Crawley, Worthing, Shoreham-by-Sea, East Grinstead, Lewes, Seaford, Eastbourne, Hastings and Rye.
All Gatwick Express and Thameslink services in Sussex are suspended on strike days, while Southern services are limited to the following:
- Two trains an hour between London Victoria and Brighton, calling at Gatwick Airport
- Two trains an hour between London Bridge and Brighton, calling at Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Balcombe, Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks and Preston Park.
- Two trains an hour between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport
- Two trains an hour between London Bridge and Three Bridges, calling at Gatwick Airport
- Two trains an hour between Brighton and Hove only
Members of the RMT are walking out today and tomorrow (Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th), and again on Friday and Saturday (6th and 7th January).
But ASLEF members are also striking on Thursday 5th January, which will 'significantly limit the number of trains that can be brought into service'.
As a result, Govia Thameslink Railway - which runs Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express - is urging people to only travel if absolutely necessary throughout this week.
Customers are also advised to check before travelling on Sunday 8th January, when first trains will start from around 7.30am and are likely to be very busy.
A regular weekend timetable will operate after that.
Angie Doll, Chief Operating Officer at Govia Thameslink Railway, said:
"We’re really sorry for the disruption this ongoing RMT action will cause our customers over the entire festive period, until 8 January.
"Regrettably, due to industrial action, our train services will be extremely limited in the first week of January with no trains at all on Thursday 5 January.
"Please plan ahead and, if services are running, travel only if absolutely necessary."
Daniel Mann, director of industry operations at the Rail Delivery Group, said:
"No one wants to see these strikes go ahead, and we can only apologise to passengers and to the many businesses who will be hit by this unnecessary and damaging disruption.
"We would advise passengers to only travel if it is absolutely necessary during this period, allow extra time and check when their first and last train will depart.
"Passengers with tickets for between 3-7 January can use their ticket the day before the ticket date, or up to and including Tuesday 10 January."