Commuters are facing severe disruption after flooding has blocked a major rail route towards London.

Flooding has been reported on the Brighton main line between Hassocks and Preston Park, with no services running between Haywards Heath and Brighton.

Rail operators have urged passengers to delay travelling until later today and warned that journeys could be delayed by at least 45 minutes.

Tickets are being accepted on:

  • Metrobus services between Crawley, Three Bridges, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and Brighton
  • Brighton and Hove Bus services via any reasonable route, including between Brighton and Preston Park, and Brighton and Hove and Shoreham
  • Alternative Southern or Thameslink services via any reasonable routes

For journeys between Brighton and Haywards Heath and London, passengers are advised to change at Lewes, but told to expect services to be “extremely busy”.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “We are monitoring water levels on the Brighton main line between Clayton and Patcham tunnels (Hassocks and Preston Park stations), in the hopes that we can re-open the line as soon as possible.

“We are sorry for the disruption to Southern and Thameslink passengers this morning.”