Sussex train services over Christmas and New Year

Getty Images A Thameslink Train at Eynsford Station, with the train driver visible. There is a light dusting of snow on the tracks.Getty Images
There will be large scale engineering work taking place on the Thameslink network

Many train services across East and West Sussex will be altered during the festive period, a rail operator says.

From 21 December, fewer services than usual will run as the rail network gets ready for Christmas and New Year.

Despite there being no large scale engineering works in Sussex, closures elsewhere on the Thameslink network (between Harpenden and London from 21 December - 29 December, between Herne Hill and St Pancras from 25 December - 29 December, and between Cambridge North and Royston from 27 December - 5 January), services will be much different to usual.

We take a look at the rail services in Sussex that Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) says it will be running over the next two weeks.

  • 21 December: Services between Bedford/Luton and Three Bridges will instead run between London Bridge and Brighton. All services will be running to amended timetables.
  • 22 December: Services between Bedford/Luton and Three Bridges/Brighton/Horsham will not run north of St Pancras. Services between Cambridge and Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton. Other services will be running to amended timetables.
  • 23 December: Services between Bedford and East Grinstead will not run, and services between Bedford and Three Bridges/Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton. Other services will be running to amended timetables.
  • 24 December: Services between Bedford and East Grinstead will not run and services between Bedford and Three Bridges/Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton. Other services will be running to amended timetables. Train services will be finishing earlier than usual.
  • 25 December: No services will run on Christmas Day.
  • 26 December: A limited Southern service will run on some routes including between London Victoria and Three Bridges/Brighton. There will be no Thameslink services on Boxing Day.
  • 27 December: Thameslink services between Bedford/Luton and Three Bridges will not run. Services between Cambridge/Bedford and Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton. Trains between Peterborough and Horsham will only run between London Bridge and Horsham. Other services will be running to amended timetables.
  • 28 December: Thameslink services between Bedford/Luton and Three Bridges will not run. Services between Cambridge/Bedford and Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton. Trains between Peterborough and Horsham will only run between London Bridge and Horsham. Other services will be running to amended timetables.
  • 29 December: Services that usually run from Brighton/Three Bridges to Bedford/Luton/Cambridge will not run north of London Bridge. Services between Peterborough and Horsham will only run between London Bridge and Horsham. Other services will be running to amended timetables.
  • 30 December: Services that usually run between Cambridge and Brighton will run to an altered timetable. One train per hour will run between Royston and Brighton, and between Finsbury Park and Brighton. Other services will be running to amended timetables.
  • 31 December: Services that usually run between Cambridge and Brighton will run to an altered timetable. One train per hour will run between Royston and Brighton, and between Finsbury Park and Brighton. Other services will be running to amended timetables.
  • 1-5 January: Services that usually run between Cambridge and Brighton will run to an altered timetable. One train per hour will run between Royston and Brighton, and between Finsbury Park and Brighton. Other services will be running to amended timetables.

Gatwick Express services will not be operating on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, be running to an amended timetable between 21 December and 5 January.

Passengers who need to check their journey in more detail, including to see how other train operator's services are affected, can use the National Rail journey planner tool.

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