Police guard level crossings after signalling failure disrupts trains between Hove and Worthing

Police were called to several level crossings between Worthing and East Preston after signalling failures caused barriers to malfunction and disrupted rail services on the Sussex coast.

All rail lines between Hove and Worthing were blocked on the evening of Wednesday, May 6, due to a complete signalling failure in the area. Signals were reportedly stuck on red, preventing trains from moving in either direction.

At South Farm Road, near Worthing Railway Station, level crossing gates became stuck at an angle. British Transport Police attended the scene to stop vehicles and pedestrians from crossing the railway line while the fault was dealt with.

Level crossing barriers in East Preston, Ferring and West Worthing were also affected during the evening.

A spokesperson for Southern operator Govia Thameslink Railway said a fault at the Ferring level crossing was reported at 6.39pm and resolved by 7.13pm. A separate issue involving the barrier at West Worthing was reported to British Transport Police at 9.37pm and resolved by 11pm.

Network Rail said its teams worked with Southern while engineers investigated the signalling problems.