NO trains will run through a town for nine days.

Between August 14 and 22 next year, no trains will run along much of the Arun Valley line, from Arundel to Three Bridges including Horsham and Crawley, and the Mole Valley line between Horsham and Dorking.

Residents in Horsham will have no trains at all for nine days.

There will also be two weekends of engineering closures on July 24 and 25 and again on July 31 and August 1.

Passengers are advised to plan ahead for this major work in 2021.

The works are to replace 1980s track and infrastructure, with new, more reliable equipment that will improve journeys for customers on the two routes, as well as the wider region by reducing delays.

The closures are planned for the summer holidays, when passenger numbers are lower and some people may be able to be more flexible with their travel plans or take holiday.

The work has been timed to avoid disrupting Brighton Pride 2021 which is due to take place at the start of August.

Passengers wishing to travel on these dates will need to allow “considerably more time” for their journeys.

Services on longer distance coastal journeys to Chichester, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Portsmouth will still be running, but journeys will take longer.

Network Rail Southern Region Investment Director Paul Harwood said:

“We never take the decision to close the railway for extended periods lightly and would like to thank passengers for their patience as we work to address historic underinvestment in the region’s railway and enhance the capability of the line.

“This investment was originally planned for several bank holiday closures, supported by a long series of weekend closures over two to three years.

“By doing the work over nine consecutive days and two weekends, the overall disruption to passengers can be significantly reduced, while fast-tracking the delivery of the reliability, safety and capacity benefits of the project.

“Recognising the importance of the railway to the leisure industry we’ll ensure that alternative routes are fully open on these dates, and we’ve timed the work to avoid Brighton Pride.

“Over the next year, we will continue to work closely with Southern, Thameslink and South Western Railway colleagues, as well as local stakeholders to ensure passengers are made aware of the changes to their journeys and the alternative options to keep them moving.”