Rail services to change after heat affects track

Southern Rail has announced changes to some of its services in West Sussex next month after prolonged hot and dry weather "affected track conditions".

The company said temporary speed restrictions will be in place on the Arun Valley route between Horsham and Barnham from 1 September, meaning more time will be needed for the completion of journeys.

As a result, fewer trains will be able to operate because "running the normal timetable could lead to delays building throughout the day and increase the risk of short notice cancellations".

A spokesperson said the plans will provide "a more reliable and predictable service" and will last "until at least 15 September".

Services between London Victoria and Bognor Regis will run half hourly in each direction as normal, they added.

Trains that normally run between London Victoria and Portsmouth Harbour will run between Barnham and Portsmouth Harbour only.

Meanwhile, services between Bognor Regis and Barnham have been reduced to half hourly services, and anyone travelling between London and Portsmouth Harbour will need to change at Barnham for an alternate onward service.

There will also be no additional peak service running from Bognor Regis to London Bridge.

"The recent record-breaking hot weather and sustained low rainfall has affected track conditions in some areas," the Southern Rail spokesperson said.

"This means temporary speed restrictions need to remain in place as safety is and will always remain our highest priority."

They apologised for disruption the changes may cause to customers who rely on the services "every day for work, school, appointments and important time with family and friends".

"The revised timetable has also been designed to minimise the impact on customers wherever possible, including protecting key services used by schoolchildren travelling to and from school," the spokesperson added.

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