Key Points
- Passengers are urged to plan ahead this Easter due to essential engineering works across Sussex and South London from Friday, April 3 to Monday, April 6, 2026.
- Network Rail engineers will renew outdated switches and crossings, refurbish key assets, and undertake critical earthworks to prevent landslips on the Sussex network.
- Services between Eastbourne and Hastings/Ore, and between Eastbourne and Ashford International, will be impacted over the Easter weekend.
- Specific works include soil nailing at Stone Cross cutting to stabilise slopes and reduce landslip risks using high-strength steel bars.
- Refurbishing switches and crossings at Bognor Regis to enable safe track changes for trains.
- Installation of a new footbridge at Ivy Lane (Birch Foot Crossing) near Bognor Regis and reinstatement of the Hampden Park station footbridge after refurbishment started in February.
- Additional refurbishment of switches and crossings between Tulse Hill, Sutton, and Wimbledon in South London.
- On Easter Sunday, Southern services between London Victoria and Portsmouth Harbour, Brighton and Southampton Central, and Littlehampton and Bognor Regis may also be affected.
- Replacement buses will operate between Eastbourne and Hastings/Ore; some trains to Ashford International amended to start from Hastings.
- Most trains will operate normally elsewhere, but passengers advised to check before travel.
Sussex (South London News) March 30, 2026 – Passengers travelling by rail in parts of Sussex and South London face disruptions this Easter weekend due to essential engineering works by Network Rail. From Friday, April 3 to Monday, April 6, engineers will renew switches and crossings, refurbish assets, and carry out earthworks to prevent landslips, impacting services between Eastbourne and Hastings/Ore, and Eastbourne and Ashford International.
What Engineering Works Are Scheduled?
Network Rail has outlined a comprehensive programme of upgrades across the Sussex network and parts of South London.
As detailed in the Network Rail Media Centre press release, engineers will focus on renewing outdated switches and crossings—the movable sections of track that guide trains from one line to another—refurbishing key assets, and performing critical earthworks to mitigate landslip risks.
Soil nailing at Stone Cross cutting forms a key part of these efforts. This ground engineering technique involves drilling high-strength steel bars into the soil to stabilise steep slopes and embankments, reducing the potential for landslips.
According to coverage in the Daily Express, additional tasks include refurbishing switches and crossings at Bognor Regis, which are crucial for enabling trains to change tracks safely.
Further infrastructure improvements encompass work on footbridges.
A new footbridge is being installed at Ivy Lane, also known as Birch Foot Crossing near Bognor Regis, while the footbridge at Hampden Park station will be reinstated following off-site refurbishment that began in early February. RailAdvent reports confirm these projects aim to enhance safety and reliability on the network.
In South London, switches and crossings between Tulse Hill, Sutton, and Wimbledon will undergo refurbishment, contributing to broader maintenance in the region.
Which Train Services Will Be Affected?
The disruptions primarily target routes in East Sussex. Services between Eastbourne and Hastings/Ore, and between Eastbourne and Ashford International, will face significant impacts over the four-day period.
National Rail Enquiries specifies that no Southern trains will run between Eastbourne and Hastings due to the works. Replacement buses will operate between Eastbourne and Hastings/Ore on Good Friday, Easter Saturday, and Easter Monday.
Trains usually running between Eastbourne and Ashford International will be amended to operate only between Hastings and Ashford International, with services from London Victoria to Eastbourne and Brighton to Eastbourne also revised.
RailAdvent adds that on Easter Sunday, Southern services between London Victoria and Portsmouth Harbour, Brighton and Southampton Central, and Littlehampton and Bognor Regis are expected to experience effects. Network Rail’s media centre emphasises that while most trains will operate as normal, passengers in these areas must check before travelling.
Why Are These Works Happening Now?
Easter weekends provide an opportunity for major maintenance when passenger numbers are high but services can be adjusted with bank holidays. As reported by Network Rail, these upgrades renew outdated infrastructure, improve reliability, and prevent future disruptions like landslips, which have affected Sussex lines previously.
The works build on ongoing efforts to modernise the network. For instance, soil nailing at Stone Cross addresses slope instability, a common issue in the region’s geology.
Refurbishments at Bognor Regis and footbridge installations ensure long-term safety and efficiency. Network Rail’s Southern Route covers these initiatives to deliver more reliable journeys, faster speeds, and reduced delays.
Past coverage, such as a BBC article on Easter travel, highlights how such works are timed for holidays to minimise weekday impacts while maximising progress.
How Will Passengers Be Supported?
Train operators are coordinating alternatives. Southern’s service information confirms replacement buses between key points like Eastbourne and Hastings/Ore. Amended train paths will maintain some connectivity, such as Hastings to Ashford International.
Network Rail urges passengers to plan ahead via National Rail Enquiries or operator apps. Jenny Saunders, Southern’s Service Director, stated as quoted in RailAdvent:
“We sincerely appreciate our customers’ patience while Network Rail implements these enhancement projects, and we apologise for any inconvenience and additional travel time some passengers may face. We are collaborating closely with Network Rail to schedule this work at times that are least disruptive, ultimately resulting in more dependable journeys for everyone.”
In the Daily Express, she added:
“These improvements are crucial for maintaining the network’s safety and efficiency, which in turn helps reduce delays and enhance reliability. I urge anyone planning to travel by train during Easter to prepare accordingly and verify their journey details with their train operator.”
What Do Officials Say About the Impact?
Officials emphasise the benefits outweigh short-term inconvenience. Although direct quotes from the primary Network Rail release in were not attributed to a named journalist, the press release itself conveys:
“Passengers are urged to plan ahead this Easter as essential engineering work takes place across Sussex and South London.”
RailAdvent’s coverage includes details on broader Sunday impacts without additional named quotes. Historical context from Network Rail’s Kent Route Director David Davidson in prior years, as in , underscores similar sentiments:
“This Easter we are continuing to upgrade the railway for passengers… these upgrades are crucial to improving reliability and performance.”
While not Easter 2026-specific, it reflects ongoing strategy.
Southern’s Jenny Saunders, as cited across sources, repeatedly calls for patience and checking journeys. No statements minimising impacts were found; all stress preparation.
When Exactly Do the Disruptions Occur?
The works span Friday, April 3 to Monday, April 6, 2026, covering Good Friday to Easter Monday. National Rail notes lines between Eastbourne and affected stations reopen post-works, but passengers should confirm.
Specific bus replacements apply on Good Friday, Easter Saturday, and Easter Monday between Eastbourne and Hastings/Ore. Easter Sunday sees additional Southern route changes. Network Rail’s advisory from March 29 confirms the timeline.
Are There Similar Past Works?
Previous Easters saw comparable upgrades. In 2025, works included 5km of new track between Eastbourne and Hastings, Battersea junction rebuilds with 6km of cables, and Lewisham signalling. A YouTube transcript from Network Rail describes Battersea Pier works:
“We’re doing a major junction renewal… renewing the switches and crossings… thousands of metres of track and conductor rail replacement.”
Landslip prevention at Chislet and Bromley North track renewal occurred then too. Recent Sussex landslip recovery used 324 soil nails, as noted by Network Rail Sussex route director Lucy McAuliffe:
“This was a significant landslip… I can only apologise to passengers.”
These precedents show a pattern of holiday-intensive maintenance.
What Should Travellers Do Next?
Check journeys via National Rail Enquiries, operator websites, or apps like Southern’s. Plan for buses on affected routes and allow extra time. Network Rail confirms the railway remains “open for business” elsewhere.
Operators like Govia Thameslink Railway, via Jenny Saunders in past releases, advise: “Engineers will be working on the tracks across our network this Easter to deliver more reliable journeys for passengers.” Southeastern’s Scott Brightwell echoed:
“We understand that essential engineering work can affect journeys, but these upgrades are crucial… alternative routes and replacement buses available.”
