RAILWAY upgrades are set to cause major disruptions this weekend.

Passengers travelling from Brighton to the capital are expected to affected as trains will not run between London Victoria and East Croydon on Saturday, October 16, and Sunday, October 17.

The £160 million project to modernise the 1980s tracks and signalling on lines into London Victoria station will aim to improve reliability and help more passenger and freight trains arrive on time.

Passengers are advised to check before travelling this weekend, as Southern trains that run between Victoria and East Croydon will be diverted to London Bridge.

Rail tickets will be accepted on London Underground services between London Victoria, London Bridge and Balham, and on London Buses between Balham and Streatham Hill.

The work will include the replacement of all signalling equipment in the Clapham and Balham areas, and lines into London Victoria, as well as an upgrade of tracks at key junctions surrounding Clapham and Balham with new, more reliable equipment.

A new and improved track layout will also be installed between Clapham and Victoria stations, improving line speeds and reliability.

Network Rai Sussex route director Katie Frost said: "While much of the railway will be open, I urge passengers to plan ahead.

“We are delivering a vital £160 million upgrade to improve the reliability and performance of trains in South London and the wider region which will mean a better railway for travellers.

“These improvements will also allow an uplift in train services between Clapham Junction and London Victoria in the future and I'd like to thank passengers for their understanding.”

The project will also cause changes to train services on November 27 and 28, the Christmas and New Year period and Easter.

Train tickets will also be valid on South Western Railway services between Clapham Junction and London Waterloo.

A limited rail replacement bus service will run between East Croydon and Clapham Junction for local journeys.

Chris Fowler, customer services director for Southern, said: “We’re working closely with Network Rail and other transport operators to make sure our customers can get where they need to be during this essential infrastructure modernisation programme, which is helping to improve the reliability of their train services.”