Sussex rail engineering work: festive upgrades and closures

Sussex rail engineering work will affect services across Sussex and south London over Christmas and New Year. Network Rail is urging passengers to plan ahead and check journeys, as noted by the Network Rail Media Centre.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

With passenger numbers typically lower, engineers will work around the clock on a programme of upgrades and maintenance aimed at improving reliability while keeping disruption to a minimum. As usual, no trains will run on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, only a limited service will operate on some Southern routes.

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Sussex rail engineering work across key junctions and power supply

During the holiday shutdown, teams will replace conductor rail — the third rail that powers trains — at East Croydon. Heavy maintenance is also planned at vital rail junctions at Gatwick and Three Bridges, which Network Rail says is needed to keep them safe and reliable for passengers.

South Bermondsey station closure and Southern replacement buses

A major change is the South Bermondsey station closure. From Saturday 27 December 2025 until Sunday 4 January 2026, the station will shut while platforms are rebuilt, with the dates also set out in a National Rail Enquiries engineering notice. Network Rail says the existing platforms date back to the 1970s, when the original 1928 wooden platforms were replaced with the current precast concrete trestle construction, which is now in a very poor state. No Southern trains will call at South Bermondsey during this period, and passengers should use local London bus services instead.

More disruption follows in early January. From Thursday 1 January to Sunday 4 January 2026, buses will replace Southern trains between London Bridge and Tulse Hill via South Bermondsey and Peckham Rye. On Friday 2 and Saturday 3 January, Beckenham Junction services will only run between Tulse Hill and Beckenham Junction.

Thameslink disruptions from London Blackfriars and ticket acceptance

To allow signalling upgrades and essential maintenance, no Thameslink trains will run between London Blackfriars and Bellingham, and between London Blackfriars and Sutton via Mitcham Junction or Wimbledon from Saturday 27 December to Wednesday 31 December 2025. Thameslink sets out the festive changes in its festive period service updates. Replacement buses will run between London Bridge and Bromley South via Bellingham, and rail tickets will also be valid on local London Bus, Tram and Underground services.

Sunday 4 January engineering work in Sussex and south London

On Sunday 4 January, engineering work means buses will replace trains between Purley and East Grinstead and between Oxted and Uckfield. Trains between London Victoria and Reigate will only run between Redhill and Reigate. Also on Sunday 4 January 2026, no Thameslink trains will run between London Blackfriars and Sutton / Wimbledon.

Lucy McAuliffe, Sussex route director, Network Rail Southern Region, said the festive period “gives us a rare chance” to take advantage of lower passenger numbers to carry out vital work. She added that these sections are normally among the busiest in the country and thanked passengers for their patience while teams deliver the improvements.

Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink, urged passengers to check online now and plan ahead for the service changes during the festive season.

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