Lewes area improvement works

The signal boxes at Lewes, Newhaven Town and Newhaven Harbour will close and the signalling control of the line move to our state-of-the-art route operating centre at Three Bridges.The project will be replacing old signalling equipment and replacing it with more modern, more reliable technology, which means there will be fewer delays for passengers in this area.

Planned dates for work

Network Rail will complete work to improve signalling in this area on the following dates:

Thursday 28 November to Sunday 1 December (including two normal working days)

On all these dates except Thursday 28 November buses will replace trains on the following routes:

Haywards Heath and Lewes
Brighton and Lewes
Lewes and Seaford
Lewes and Polegate

On Thursday 28 November buses will replace trains on the following routes:

Haywards Heath and Lewes
Lewes and Seaford

On Thursday 28 November passengers travelling between London and Lewes, Seaford and Eastbourne should use train services changing at Brighton.

On Friday 29 November to Sunday 1 December we will also run a limited train shuttle service calling at all stations between Brighton and Falmer.

Revised bus and train times for all dates are now available in journey planners.

Travel outside of the peak times where possible and allow more time for your journey.

Trains between Brighton and London will run as normal.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my bike on replacement buses?
Only if it is a fold-up bike. Non-folding bikes can NOT be taken on replacement buses, in accordance with Southern cycle policy.

Will rail tickets be valid via alternative routes?
From Thursday 28 November to Saturday 30 November tickets routed ‘via Haywards Heath’ can be used on Southeastern trains between London and Hastings via Tunbridge Wells. Tickets will not be valid on Southeastern services on Sunday 1 December because of separate engineering work taking place on that route.

Will rail tickets be valid on any normal bus services?
Yes. Brighton & Hove buses will accept valid rail tickets and actual tickets held on Key Smartcards for any reasonable journey on the following routes:

Routes 12, 12A & 12X between Brighton, Newhaven, Seaford & Eastbourne
Routes 28 & 29 between Brighton, Lewes & Uckfield
Within the Brighton city area on any reasonable Brighton & Hove bus route to travel between Brighton, London Road (Brighton), Moulsecoomb and Falmer stations

Just show either your rail ticket or your Key Smartcard to the bus driver.

Full details of Brighton & Hove bus routes can be found at www.buses.co.uk.

What about Key Smartcards?
If you hold an actual ticket on your Key Smartcard you will be able to use other operator’s services as normal. If you should experience any difficulty using your Key Card on another operator please contact Southern's Customer Relations (link) providing confirmation of your original ticket and any new ticket purchased from the other operator.

KeyGo can NOT be used on other operators. Please buy a paper ticket to ensure you pay the correct fare for your journey if you plan to use an alternative operators’ services or travel via a different route to avoid the replacement bus services.

Can I use my car park ticket at another station?
If you hold a monthly or longer Car Park season ticket for Berwick, Eastbourne, Falmer, Hampden Park, Lewes, Pevensey & Westham, Polegate or Seaford you will be able to use Haywards Heath, Brighton or Three Bridges station car parks at no extra charge. You can also use Uckfield station car park free of charge on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th November only. Availability of alternative spaces may be limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis.

If you don't have a Car Park season ticket and choose to drive to an alternative station car park you should pay the appropriate day parking rate for that car park.

If you normally use one of our free station car parks you will need to pay for parking if you decide to use a different station car park which does charge. There is no refund due on any price difference between the car park normally used and the facility paid for.

Where will replacement buses stop?
At most stations buses will stop outside the station. At London Road (Brighton), Moulsecoomb, Falmer, Southease and Bishopstone buses stop a short walk from the station. See our Station Information for maps showing bus stop locations.

Can I claim compensation for any delays or inconvenience caused by this line closure?
Southern's Delay Repay will apply as normal, based on the revised advertised bus and train times. There is no additional compensation on top of this.