No Gatwick Express or Southern trains will run to or from London Victoria on Sunday 18 October 2026, when engineering work closes all National Rail lines serving the terminal. Passengers for Gatwick Airport, Brighton and destinations across Sussex will need to use alternative London stations or replacement services. Services that normally use Victoria will operate to an amended timetable, with many Southern trains diverted to London Bridge. Gatwick Express will not run at all on Sunday. Passengers holding Gatwick Express tickets can use Southern and Thameslink services between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport at no additional cost.
Saturday 17 October is also affected, although Victoria remains in use. Gatwick Express will operate to an amended timetable with slightly longer journeys, while Southern will run a reduced service between Victoria and Clapham Junction or East Croydon. The Victoria works form part of a wider weekend of London transport disruption. LCM's London Tube and Train Closures guide for 17–18 October covers the Underground, Overground and National Rail changes across the capital.
London Victoria railway station, photographed on February 2026. Image: London Construction Magazine.
London Victoria trains: what changes on Saturday and Sunday?
| Service | Saturday 17 October | Sunday 18 October |
|---|---|---|
| Gatwick Express | Amended timetable with slightly extended journeys | No service all day |
| Southern at Victoria | Reduced and amended service | No trains to or from Victoria |
| Gatwick Airport | Gatwick Express and other services available with changes | Use Southern or Thameslink from London Bridge |
| Brighton / Sussex | Several services amended or diverted | Many Victoria services diverted to London Bridge |
How to get to Gatwick Airport on Sunday 18 October
Passengers should not travel to London Victoria expecting to board a Gatwick Express on Sunday. National Rail confirms that no Gatwick Express services will operate all day. The principal rail alternative from central London is London Bridge. Southern and Thameslink services continue to provide direct connections between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport, subject to the amended Sunday timetable.
Gatwick Express tickets will be accepted on Southern and Thameslink trains between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport at no extra cost. Passengers who would normally start their journey at Victoria will therefore need to cross central London before joining the airport train. For anyone travelling with luggage, young children or limited mobility, the additional interchange is worth allowing for when deciding what time to leave. Journey planners should be checked again shortly before departure because the Sunday timetable differs substantially from the normal Victoria–Gatwick pattern.
Southern trains diverted from Victoria to London Bridge
Southern confirms that trains which normally operate to or from London Victoria will instead be diverted to London Bridge on Sunday, running to an amended and reduced timetable. That affects passengers travelling between London and destinations across south London, Surrey and Sussex. The change is particularly relevant for routes towards Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Eastbourne, Littlehampton and other destinations normally associated with Victoria. Passengers should check the destination shown in journey planners rather than assuming their usual train will simply depart from another platform at Victoria. On Sunday, the National Rail terminal will not be serving Southern or Gatwick Express trains at all.
Replacement buses between Clapham Junction and East Croydon
Rail replacement buses will operate between Clapham Junction and East Croydon, calling at Wandsworth Common, Balham, Streatham Common, Norbury, Thornton Heath, Selhurst and West Croydon. These buses are particularly relevant to passengers making local journeys through south London rather than travelling directly between central London and Gatwick. Replacement-bus journeys will generally take longer than the equivalent train journey, so passengers should allow additional time.
Alternative Tube, Overground and rail routes
Southern has arranged ticket acceptance across a number of alternative services on Sunday. Paper rail tickets can be used at no additional cost on specified London Overground, South Western Railway, London Underground and bus routes. Useful alternatives include London Overground between Canada Water and Crystal Palace or West Croydon, and South Western Railway between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction. Underground ticket acceptance includes routes connecting Victoria with Euston, Vauxhall, London Bridge, Blackfriars, West Brompton and other interchange points.
The exact best route depends heavily on the passenger's origin and destination. Someone heading to Gatwick from central London will normally have a simpler journey using London Bridge, while local passengers around Battersea, Balham, Streatham or Croydon may benefit from the replacement buses or agreed TfL routes.
Victoria Underground station is not closing
The Sunday closure applies to the National Rail services at London Victoria. It does not mean the London Underground station is closing. Passengers can still use Victoria Underground station for the Victoria, District and Circle lines, subject to any separate live disruption on the TfL network. That allows passengers arriving at Victoria by Tube or bus to continue across London towards alternative rail terminals.
Saturday 17 October also has a reduced service
Passengers travelling one day earlier should not assume Saturday is unaffected. Some railway lines around Victoria will already be closed while the engineering programme is under way. Gatwick Express trains between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton will run to an amended timetable with slightly extended journey times. Southern services between Victoria and Clapham Junction or East Croydon will operate at reduced frequency. Services normally running between Victoria and Littlehampton, Eastbourne or Ore are also among those affected by diversions, while passengers travelling between London and Redhill are advised to check Southern and Thameslink alternatives.
Brighton and Sussex passengers should check the London terminal
For passengers travelling from Brighton, Eastbourne and other Sussex destinations, one of the easiest mistakes on Sunday will be heading towards Victoria out of habit.Many services that normally terminate at Victoria are being redirected to London Bridge. London Bridge therefore becomes the main central London rail hub for a large part of the affected Southern network during the closure. The altered service is also likely to place additional demand on London Bridge and connecting Underground services. Passengers should check the actual London terminal shown for their train rather than relying on their normal route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is London Victoria railway station closed on Sunday 18 October?
There will be no Gatwick Express or Southern trains to or from London Victoria all day. The London Underground station remains available for Tube journeys.
There will be no Gatwick Express or Southern trains to or from London Victoria all day. The London Underground station remains available for Tube journeys.
Is Gatwick Express running on Sunday 18 October?
No. Gatwick Express will not operate on Sunday. Passengers can use Southern or Thameslink services between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.
No. Gatwick Express will not operate on Sunday. Passengers can use Southern or Thameslink services between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.
Can I use my Gatwick Express ticket from London Bridge?
Yes. The published engineering arrangements allow Gatwick Express tickets to be used at no extra cost on Southern and Thameslink services between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.
Yes. The published engineering arrangements allow Gatwick Express tickets to be used at no extra cost on Southern and Thameslink services between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.
Are trains running from Victoria on Saturday 17 October?
Yes, but both Gatwick Express and Southern services are amended. Gatwick Express has slightly longer journey times and Southern runs a reduced service on several Victoria routes.
Yes, but both Gatwick Express and Southern services are amended. Gatwick Express has slightly longer journey times and Southern runs a reduced service on several Victoria routes.
Check the Sunday timetable before travelling
Passengers using Gatwick Airport or travelling between London and Sussex should check National Rail or Southern again before departure on Sunday 18 October. The key change is simple: do not travel to London Victoria expecting a Gatwick Express or Southern train. Anyone also travelling towards Heathrow should note that the Piccadilly line is closed between Hammersmith and Heathrow throughout the same weekend, making advance planning particularly important for airport journeys across London.
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