Level crossing closure to affect rail and road use

Rail and road users are being advised to plan ahead as a level crossing will be closed for a whole weekend at the end of November.

Work to replace railway track on the Portslade level crossing on Boundary Road will close it for two days, resulting in diversions.

The closure will begin at 01:00 GMT on 30 November as is scheduled to be completed by 02:00 on 2 December.

Motorists are being told to use the A270 Old Shoreham Road as a diversionary route, and some trains will be replaced by buses.

The old underpass will remain open for pedestrian use and a shuttle bus will operate for people unable to use it, picking up and dropping off between Portslade railway station car park, north of the level crossing (next to the cycle hub), and Portslade station (stop C) outside Station Kebab House.

The shuttle will operate throughout the closure of the crossing.

Local bus services 1X, 6 and 46 will all be diverted.

Buses will operate instead of trains throughout the closure between Brighton and Littlehampton.

Southern trains that usually run between London Victoria and Littlehampton will be diverted to terminate at Brighton only but services will continue to run between Littlehampton and Portsmouth Harbour/Southampton Central.

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail's Sussex Route director said: "To complete the work, we need to close the railway, and as the work is taking place near the level crossing, it needs to close as well.

"We're asking motorists to leave a bit more time to travel as the diversion will mean slightly journeys.

"Trains will be replaced by buses when the work is being carried out. Thank you for bearing with us while we work to improve the railway."