Snow in Sussex impacts train travel for Thameslink route

DESPITE the bright sunshine in St Albans and London, heavy snow in Sussex is continuing to cause disruption for First Capital Connect (FCC) passengers this morning (Tuesday).

A spokesman for FCC said that the overnight snow has caused severe congestion and delays of around an hour on all services on the Bedford to Brighton, Wimbledon and Sutton Thameslink route.

He said: “Understandably, our passengers in areas with no snow will find it difficult to understand why bad weather was affecting their services this morning. Network Rail has been working under very trying conditions.”

Drifts of as much as 10cm of snow formed overnight in Sussex and there were sub-zero temperatures.

The spokesman said: “Network Rail has been digging out the points that allow our trains to switch from one track to another. Between East Croydon and Three Bridges we can use only two lines instead of the normal four.

“There was also a points failure at Gatwick at 7.10am that brought all our trains to a complete stand for an hour.

Trains have had to travel slower because of the treacherous conditions and to keep the snow out of essential electrical equipment.

“The severe congestion on this part of the route has affected services everywhere else including those in central London and St Albans where we have no snow and bright sunshine.”