Last updated: 9 October 2026 at 11.50pm BST. What is new: the weekday works have ended and the full Brighton Main Line weekend closure is now imminent. The final service plan confirms no Gatwick Express trains on Saturday, no Thameslink trains between Brighton and Three Bridges, and a diverted Southern route to London via Littlehampton.
No trains will run on the direct Brighton Main Line between Brighton, Hove or Lewes and Three Bridges on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October. Passengers heading for Gatwick Airport or London should expect much longer journeys and check their exact route before leaving.
In short
- No direct trains will run between Brighton and Three Bridges, Hove and Three Bridges via Haywards Heath, or Lewes and Three Bridges on 10–11 October.
- A diverted Southern train will link Brighton with London Victoria via Hove, Worthing, Littlehampton, Horsham, Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport.
- Southern advises Brighton–London passengers to use the diverted train rather than the limited replacement buses.
- No Gatwick Express trains will run on Saturday; on Sunday the service starts after 07:00 with an amended timetable.
- No Thameslink trains will run between Brighton and Three Bridges. Replacement buses will serve several local sections.
- Journeys will take longer, and airport passengers should allow a substantial margin.
Brighton rail replacement buses for 10–11 October
The earlier weekday changes were the smaller warning before a far more disruptive weekend. Network Rail says the Brighton Main Line will close between Brighton, Hove and Lewes and Three Bridges on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October for essential engineering work.
Southern says replacement buses will run between Three Bridges and Brighton or Lewes. Other buses will connect Three Bridges with Preston Park, Balcombe with Brighton, Haywards Heath with Plumpton, and Plumpton with Lewes.
A diverted Southern train service is planned between Brighton and London Victoria via Hove, Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing, Angmering, Littlehampton, Horsham, Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport. Gatwick Express advises Brighton–London passengers to use this train rather than the limited replacement buses, while allowing extra time.
No Gatwick Express trains will run on Saturday. On Sunday, none will run before 07:00; an amended service is then planned. Thameslink trains will not run between Three Bridges and Brighton during the weekend closure, with tickets accepted on Southern replacement buses.
Why it matters locally
This is not a routine platform alteration. The direct rail corridor north from Brighton will be broken twice in one week: first for a handful of overnight Thameslink trains, then across an entire weekend.
The biggest practical risk is for passengers with fixed-time connections at Gatwick Airport, London terminals or stations north of the capital. The diverted route through Littlehampton keeps a through train option open, but it is much longer than the normal Brighton Main Line journey. Replacement buses can also be busier than usual.
Readers who followed our earlier coverage of Brighton rail disruption after the Gatwick trackside fire will recognise how quickly a problem north of the city can affect the whole corridor. This time, however, the dates and alternatives are known in advance.
What residents need to know
- For London: use the diverted Southern train via Hove, Worthing, Littlehampton and Horsham where practical. Southern advises this route rather than the limited replacement buses.
- For Gatwick Airport: check the precise departure before leaving. The diverted train serves Gatwick, but the journey is substantially longer than the normal main-line route.
- For Haywards Heath or Burgess Hill: expect a replacement bus for the closed section and allow extra time for the interchange.
- For Lewes: buses run from Three Bridges via Haywards Heath and Cooksbridge; other buses link Haywards Heath, Plumpton and Lewes.
- Gatwick Express: there is no service on Saturday and none before 07:00 on Sunday. Southern or Thameslink alternatives can be used between London and Gatwick at no extra cost.
- Hastings passengers: Southern tickets are accepted on Southeastern trains between Hastings and London.
- Accessibility or bicycles: read National Rail’s replacement-bus guidance, as facilities and cycle carriage differ from trains.
- Final check: use the National Rail Journey Planner for the exact service you intend to take.
Brighton Locals’ view
Editorial judgement: the advance notice is welcome, and the diverted Southern train means Brighton is not completely cut off from London. But the scale of the diversion is easy to underestimate: the through train reaches Three Bridges only after travelling west through Hove and Littlehampton, so passengers should not plan around normal Brighton–London journey times.
The practical test will be whether replacement buses have enough capacity and whether passengers receive clear advice at Brighton, Preston Park and Three Bridges. For airport journeys, “allow extra time” should be treated as a real planning requirement, not boilerplate.
What to watch next
Journey planners can change as engineering timetables are finalised, and live disruption can alter the planned alternatives. We will watch for changes to bus frequency, first and last connections, and ticket acceptance. Clearer confirmed journey times or additional direct replacement buses would materially improve the assessment.
Bottom line
The direct route north is closed throughout 10–11 October. Brighton passengers can still reach London and Gatwick, but they must use a much longer diverted train or replacement buses and should plan the exact journey before setting out.
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