Bus routes for Brighton rail closure in February 2027

No trains will run on the Brighton Main Line between Three Bridges and Brighton or Lewes from Saturday, February 13, to Sunday, February 21, 2027, while engineers carry out work.

With three months to go, Network Rail and train operators are urging passengers to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.

Buses will replace trains on affected routes, while a direct service between Brighton and London Victoria will be diverted via Horsham and Littlehampton.

The diversion will extend journey times, but passengers travelling between the Brighton and Hove areas and Gatwick Airport or London are being encouraged to use the train rather than replacement buses.

The planned closure was initially announced in March, with Network Rail now setting out the replacement bus routes.

Trains between Brighton and Three Bridges will be affected by the nine-day closure in February. (Image: Network Rail)

Which replacement buses will run?

Network Rail said replacement buses would run on these routes during the closure:

• Three Bridges and Brighton, calling at all stations
• Three Bridges and Lewes, via Haywards Heath and Cooksbridge
• Three Bridges and Haywards Heath
• Haywards Heath and Plumpton
• Lewes and East Grinstead, on weekdays only

East and West Coastway train times to and from Brighton will also be revised.

Network Rail said online journey planners would start showing revised train and replacement bus times later this month.

What work is planned?

Engineers will replace rails at Plumpton and Preston Park and renew track, switches and crossings at Keymer Junction near Wivelsfield.

Work will also strengthen cuttings at Haywards Heath and Balcombe to reduce the risk of landslips and rock falls.

Balcombe Tunnel is due to undergo structural work and new rails will be installed through Clayton Tunnel.

A new conductor rail, which supplies power to trains, will be installed between Clayton Tunnel and Preston Park.

There will also be new signalling and renewed level crossings at Spatham Lane near Westmeston and at Hamsey.

Work at Copyhold Junction, near the Ouse Valley Viaduct and Haywards Heath (Image: Southern)

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said:

“We know closing the railway is an inconvenience, but the extended closure over February half-term 2027 allows us to deliver a huge volume of work at once, avoiding repeated disruption across multiple weekends or during the busy summer season.”

Separate engineering work is also planned in the Redhill area over Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027.