Commuters and air travellers using the busy Brighton Main Line faced significant delays overnight after a trespass incident closed tracks between Purley and Gatwick Airport late on 6 February. National Rail reported that all lines were blocked from 23:00, halting Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services that funnel passengers to London’s two largest airports.
British Transport Police cleared the line shortly after midnight, but residual delays of up to 45 minutes persisted into the morning of 7 February and National Rail warned that services might be revised until the end of the day. Train operators lifted an initial ‘do not travel’ notice but advised customers connecting with early-morning flights to allow extra time or seek alternative routes via Victoria or Blackfriars.
The incident is a reminder of the fragility of last-mile links to key UK aviation hubs: Gatwick Express normally carries thousands of business travellers each morning, and the Brighton Line also serves Thameslink’s through-London services to Luton Airport. Disruptions quickly ripple across corporate itineraries, particularly with tight check-in windows introduced for the forthcoming UK ETA checks.
![Early-morning trespass causes hours of rail disruption on Gatwick Airport corridor]()
While travellers reassess their schedules, it can also be prudent to review entry documentation. VisaHQ’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides fast, personalised guidance on the upcoming UK ETA as well as visas for onward destinations, giving passengers one less worry when unexpected rail delays threaten tight flight connections.
Employers are urged to build contingency planning into travel policies—for example, booking earlier trains, enabling flexible flight changes or considering overnight stays near airports for critical meetings. Rail operators said they are reviewing trespass-prevention measures, including enhanced fencing and rapid-response security teams, as part of a Department for Transport initiative to safeguard strategic travel corridors.
Passengers with delayed rail journeys can claim compensation under each operator’s Delay Repay scheme. Those who missed flights because of the disruption should retain rail confirmation emails and airline re-ticketing receipts to support insurance or expense claims.
British Transport Police cleared the line shortly after midnight, but residual delays of up to 45 minutes persisted into the morning of 7 February and National Rail warned that services might be revised until the end of the day. Train operators lifted an initial ‘do not travel’ notice but advised customers connecting with early-morning flights to allow extra time or seek alternative routes via Victoria or Blackfriars.
The incident is a reminder of the fragility of last-mile links to key UK aviation hubs: Gatwick Express normally carries thousands of business travellers each morning, and the Brighton Line also serves Thameslink’s through-London services to Luton Airport. Disruptions quickly ripple across corporate itineraries, particularly with tight check-in windows introduced for the forthcoming UK ETA checks.
While travellers reassess their schedules, it can also be prudent to review entry documentation. VisaHQ’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides fast, personalised guidance on the upcoming UK ETA as well as visas for onward destinations, giving passengers one less worry when unexpected rail delays threaten tight flight connections.
Employers are urged to build contingency planning into travel policies—for example, booking earlier trains, enabling flexible flight changes or considering overnight stays near airports for critical meetings. Rail operators said they are reviewing trespass-prevention measures, including enhanced fencing and rapid-response security teams, as part of a Department for Transport initiative to safeguard strategic travel corridors.
Passengers with delayed rail journeys can claim compensation under each operator’s Delay Repay scheme. Those who missed flights because of the disruption should retain rail confirmation emails and airline re-ticketing receipts to support insurance or expense claims.
