A21 closed and major London station plagued by rush-hour delays

The Gatwick Express rail service has been suspended and there is expected to be disruption between Brighton and London Victoria until the end of the day.

A points failure at Victoria and a potential signalling fault between Preston Park and Hassocks are causing delays and blocking some of the lines between Brighton and London.

Gatwick Express services will be cancelled, while some Southern and Thameslink services may be cancelled, revised, diverted or delayed by up to 20 minutes.

National Rail say: ‘Gatwick Express services which run between Brighton and London Victoria will be suspended – please use alternative Southern and Thameslink services between Brighton and London, and leave at least 20 minutes of extra time to catch an alternative train.

‘Southern services which run to and from London Victoria may be subject to delays, amendments and a few cancellations – where trains are amended, they may be diverted to and from London Bridge.’

Because of this disruption, trains via Gatwick Airport may be much busier than usual.

Tickets will be accepted on the following services:

• Southern services between Brighton, Hove, Haywards Heath, Gatwick Airport and London Victoria
• Thameslink services between Brighton, Gatwick Airport and London Bridge / London Blackfriars / Farringdon / London St Pancras International
• London Underground between London Terminals

The force shared their most recent update at around midnight: ‘We are currently responding to a serious collision at John’s Cross Roundabout in Mountfield, near Robertsbridge.

‘A section of the A21 is likely to remain closed in both directions for several hours, affecting Friday morning traffic, and we would advise seeking an alternative route.

‘Thank you for your understanding. We will provide further information as soon as we are able to.’

A National Rail spokesperson said: ‘A fault with the signalling system in the London Bridge area is delaying southbound trains towards East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Horsham and Brighton.

‘Services will instead be diverted between London Blackfriars and East Croydon, so won’t stop at London Bridge or Norwood Junction as a result (in the direction of East Croydon / Gatwick Airport / Brighton / Horsham).

‘Journeys will take at least 20 minutes longer than normal, so please allow plenty of extra time and check before you travel.

‘If you are travelling to/from London Bridge, we’d advise using London Underground services to complete your journey instead, changing at either London Blackfriars or London Victoria.’

Tickets will be accepted for no extra cost on the following:

• Southern and Thameslink services via any reasonable route, including Southern services to / from London Victoria
• London Underground services between London Terminals