Horsham to Dorking Rail Route Disruption Set to Last Weeks

A major landslip in Surrey has forced the closure of the railway between Horsham and Dorking after part of the line was left suspended above the ground, with disruption set to continue until at least mid-February.

The incident occurred on an embankment south of Ockley station, where unstable ground has left one of the tracks effectively hanging in mid-air. As a result, both tracks on the route have been made unusable and no trains are able to operate through the affected section.

Passengers using Southern Railway services are being warned to expect significant changes to their journeys over the coming weeks. Rail replacement buses are in operation and tickets are being accepted on a local bus operator while repair work continues. Customers are being urged to check travel plans in advance.

Network Rail said the embankment failed after prolonged heavy rainfall on already saturated ground. Engineers described the event as a ‘rotational failure’, in which a nine-metre stretch of soil slid away beneath the tracks, causing the collapse.

Network Rail Sussex route director Lucy McAuliffe said:

“This is a significant landslip which is already having an impact on our customers. While the line is closed and our teams carry out the repairs, some journeys will take much longer until the repairs are complete. I can only apologise for the disruption that customers are experiencing on this part of the network. We need to stabilise the embankment, stopping it from moving, and then rebuild the railway where it has slid away. We’ll keep everyone informed of our progress and we will be working around the clock to ensure that the railway is reopened as quickly and as safely as possible. In the meantime, please do check before you travel.”

Network Rail and its contractors have now agreed a repair plan, which will see around 47 steel piles driven into the embankment to stabilise the slope before the railway infrastructure can be rebuilt and safely reopened.

Southern Railway said safety considerations mean repairs will take time, but measures are in place to minimise disruption where possible.

Jenny Saunders, Southern's Customer Service Director said:

"I am very sorry for the continued disruption to passengers on the Horsham to Dorking line after the landslip at Ockley over the weekend. Safety is at the very core of our railway, and it will take engineers some time to restore the embankment so trains can safely run again. We have a comprehensive plan to keep passengers on the move, including rail replacement buses and ticket acceptance with other transport operators. This will mean that journeys take longer than usual and I would encourage everyone to check online before travelling. We are working very closely with our colleagues at Network Rail to provide updates as the work progresses."

Image: Network Rail