Network Rail will carry out Essential upgrade work to the tracks between Redhill and Gatwick Airport. It will affect rail travel to and from Gatwick Airport and all destinations on the Brighton main line and beyond from Saturday 23 to Saturday 30 December, but particularly on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 December 2006.
 
Also over this period (Saturday 23 December 2006 to Tuesday 2 January 2007) Network Rail will carry out essential upgrade work in the Portsmouth area. Southern train services will terminate and start from Chichester with a replacement bus service running between Chichester and Portsmouth.
 
Details of the train and replacement bus service is being finalised and will be displayed here nearer the time.
 
Other train operating companies serving the area are also affected by the works.
 
SATURDAY 23 DECEMBER
Two of the four tracks at Earlswood will be closed. A revised Saturday train service will run between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Sussex coast stations. Replacement bus services will run between Redhill and Horley calling at Earlswood and Salfords.
 
SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER (Christmas Eve)
A revised Sunday train service will run between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Sussex coast stations. Replacement bus services will operate between Redhill and Horley.
 
MONDAY 25 DECEMBER (Christmas Day)
No Southern services will operate.
 
TUESDAY 26 DECEMBER (Boxing Day)
No services will run on the Southern network except for half hourly services between London Victoria and West Croydon.
 
WEDNESDAY 27 & THURSDAY 28 DECEMBER
All four tracks at Earlswood will be closed. The following arrangements will be in place:
 
• Half hourly train services will run between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport (journey time 90 minutes) and Brighton (journey time 120 minutes). Running via an alternative route, they will provide connections at Horsham for stations to Chichester and Worthing. They will also provide connections at Three Bridges for stations to Lewes and Eastbourne.
 
• To cater for passengers from London Bridge, East Croydon and intermediate stations, replacement bus services will run from Redhill calling at stations to Three Bridges.
Please note: The buses will call at Gatwick Airport in the ‘southbound’ direction only. Northbound passengers for intermediate stations to London should travel by train to Three Bridges for replacement buses to Redhill.
 
• Passengers from Croydon can avoid replacement buses if they use West Croydon station and change at Sutton to pick up the diverted trains.
 
• Half hourly train services will operate between London Victoria and Redhill to serve the intermediate stations.
 
To make way for diverted trains between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton, it has been necessary to reduce train services between London Victoria, Streatham Common, West Croydon, Sutton, Epsom and Dorking.
 
There will be no train or replacement bus services at Boxhill and Westhumble, Holmwood, Ockley and Warnham stations – taxi arrangements will be made for passengers when required.
 
FRIDAY 29 AND SATURDAY 30 DECEMBER
Two of the four tracks at Earlswood will be closed. A reduced Saturday train service will run. All stations will have a train service.
 
Visit National Rail Enquiries nearer the time at www.nationalrail.co.uk