Gatwick Airport: Trains to and from major UK airport cancelled and delayed after train hits obstruction on track
Rail services through Gatwick Airport are being cancelled and delayed after a train hit an obstruction on the tracks.
Rail operators Thameslink and Southern first reported the issue at about 06:00 GMT on Tuesday, saying that an obstruction had been struck by a train near Salfords station, in Surrey. The train companies say trains running to, from or through Gatwick Airport may be cancelled, delayed by up to 40 minutes or revised and services that are running may use alternative platforms at some stations.
Thameslink said its services between Three Bridges and Bedford had been suspended, and no trains would call at Salfords or Earlswood stations in the northbound direction until further notice. Trains will call at these stations in the southbound direction to an amended timetable, so passengers can change at Redhill.
Ticket acceptance has been put in place on alternative routes between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport, and on local buses. Disruption is expected to last until 12:00 GMT.
National Rail said: “A train hitting an obstruction on the line in the Salfords area means that the line towards Purley is blocked. As a result, trains running to / from and through Gatwick Airport may be cancelled, delayed by up to 40 minutes or revised.”
Listed below are service alterations which will impact your travel:
- Gatwick Express services have been suspended until further notice
- No trains will call at Earlswood and Salfords in a northbound direction until further notice. Please use alternative routes to reach your destination. It is recommended you travel to Gatwick Airport as trains are running from this station
- Thameslink trains which usually run between Three Bridges and Bedford will be suspended until further notice. Alternative Thameslink services between Brighton and Bedford are still available.
Routes affected are:
- Gatwick Express between Brighton and London Victoria
- Great Western Railway between Gatwick Airport and Reading
- Southern between Portsmouth Harbour / Bognor Regis / Eastbourne / Littlehampton / Hastings / Ore and London Victoria, and also between Bognor Regis / Eastbourne / Littlehampton and London Bridge, between Three Bridges / Gatwick Airport and Redhill
- Thameslink between Brighton / Horsham / Haywards Heath / Three Bridges and Bedford, between Brighton and Cambridge, between Horsham and Peterborough, and also between Three Bridges and London Bridge