All lines between Chichester and Barnham in West Sussex have been shut while emergency crews deal with an incident at Chichester railway station, causing knock-on cancellations and delays across the wider network – including services linking Brighton and Southampton.
Southern has confirmed that Brighton to Southampton trains are cancelled, cutting a direct coastal route used by commuters and leisure travellers heading into the city.
READ MORE: Follow live updates about this incident affecting Southampton trains
Disruption is expected to last until around 7pm, with delays of up to 40 minutes and widespread service alterations elsewhere.
The incident has also forced significant changes to other routes feeding into Hampshire, with services from London Victoria and Brighton terminating early at Bognor Regis or Barnham instead of continuing west.
Passengers travelling towards Southampton from Sussex and parts of West Sussex are being advised to seek alternative routes, with tickets being accepted on South Western Railway services at no extra cost.
Replacement travel options are also available via Stagecoach bus routes along the south coast.
Stations between Chichester and Barnham — including Bosham, Nutbourne and Fishbourne — are currently without any train service, further limiting movement along the coastal line.
Rail operators are urging passengers to allow at least 30 extra minutes for journeys and to check before travelling, as disruption is likely to ripple across the region into the evening peak.
No further details about the nature of the incident have yet been released.