Ockley landslip

Following a landslip at Ockley, repairs have been completed and the line has now reopened.

We would like to sincerely apologise for the recent disruption due to a landslip at Ockley. The landslip was reported on the evening of 23 January, making the section of track impassable by trains. To allow for permanent repair work to take place, specialist Network Rail teams and equipment required access to the track and embankment. This meant that both lines had to be blocked until the repairs were completed. 

A large scope of works has now taken place at the site, and we are pleased to inform you that the line has reopened.

Here is an overview of some of the work carried out by our partners at Network Rail:

• Soil gave way along a 9-metre section of the embankment on 27 January 2026, saturated after days of heavy rain, on top of a persistently wet winter
• Work has been carried out throughout the day and night since the incident occurred
• The embankment was first stabilised to stop it from moving further
• The damaged track was removed, and 47 steel piles were then installed in the bank
• A concrete platform was built, strong enough to carry a 50-tonne machine
• 2,800 tonnes of material was removed, with new material brought in to reshape the slope, and new stone locked in to make the structure even stronger
• By bringing in the new material by train, Network Rail made a carbon reduction of 76% and removed the need for around 140 deliveries by lorry
• Engineers have also carried out wider proactive works in the area during this time, installing 324 soil nails along the embankment to strengthen it

Network Rail Sussex route director, Lucy McAuliffe, said: “This was a significant landslip for our teams to respond to, and I can only apologise to passengers who have been impacted by this closure.

“The team worked around the clock to rebuild the railway at Ockley in just a few weeks, which is an incredible achievement, but we know how important this railway is to people and how crucial it was to get regular train services back on track.

“I’d like say a huge thank-you to passengers and to the local community for their patience and support while we made the railway safe again.”

Jenny Saunders, Customer Service Director for Southern, said: "Through careful work, we've managed to keep the vast majority of our passengers on the move by train, but for local trips it has been necessary to take one of our buses, which has taken longer. So, it really is very good news that the landslip is now repaired and we can restore our full service. I am grateful for our passengers' understanding and patience and thank Network Rail for reopening the tracks on time."