A POINTS failure has caused major railway disruptions.

Thameslink trains that start at Gatwick Airport and go to Bedford are likely to be cancelled.

At 7.15am on Thursday, February 3, a Thameslink spokeswoman said: “Unfortunately, the points failure at Three Bridges from earlier has happened again.

“Network Rail are dispatching engineers to site.”

Points are moveable parts of a railway track which allow trains to move from one tack to another.

The Thameslink spokeswoman said the points failure will cause disruption to trains that run between Horsham and Peterborough, Brighton and Cambridge and Brighton and Bedford.

“Trains that start at Gatwick Airport and go to Bedford are likely to be cancelled as they are unable to come out of Three Bridges Depot,” she said.

“You'll need to check journey planners before you travel and allow up to 30 minutes extra to complete your journey.”

Tickets may be used on Southern services and Metrobus between Redhill, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges and Horsham.

A Southern Rail spokesman said there will also disruption to services that run between Bognor/Southampton Central/Portsmouth Harbour and London Bridge, as well services from Littlehampton/Eastbourne to London Bridge.

“If you're at Three Bridges station waiting to board a train, you'll need to check the platform number on station screens,” the spokeswoman added.

“Some trains may use different platforms than usual.”