Major disruption for rail users due to blocked line

Rail passengers are facing significant disruption with trains partially suspended on one of the UK's busiest railway lines.

Trains are suspended on the Brighton Main Line between Three Bridges and Haywards Heath, in West Sussex, due to emergency services dealing with an incident close to Balcombe.

Rail operater Southern said that trains running between Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport may be cancelled or severely delayed, with major disruption expected until 13:00 BST.

Passengers have been advised to allow up to 90 minutes extra to complete their journeys until further notice.

Rail replacement buses are currently running between Gatwick and Haywards Heath.

Operators have also put ticket acceptance in place on other routes, including on Great Western Railway services between Dorking and London and on local bus routes.

Where possible, trains are running but may terminate a different destination while no trains can run through the affected area.

British Transport Police said: "We were called to an area of the line close to Balcombe station at about 04:15 GMT following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

"Officers attended along with paramedics but sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances leading up to their death."

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