REPAIRS to stabilise a railway cutting and prevent delays caused by landslips will mean delays to train services in September.

Network Rail said the “vital work” will take place in Hove between Saturday, September 18, and Friday, October 1.

While the work takes place, no trains will run on the route directly linking Brighton with Hove.

On September 18 and 19, buses will replace trains between Brighton and Littlehampton.

From September 20, train times will change between Littlehampton and Brighton, with services diverted to and from Preston Park, where passengers will need to change trains to complete their journeys.

Passengers travelling between Portsmouth or Southampton and Worthing, Hove or Brighton will need to change at Littlehampton.

Additionally, Great Western Railway services to and from Brighton will start and end at Worthing on weekdays, and Portsmouth Harbour on weekends.

In order to stabilise the cutting and protect the railway from rockfall, engineers will be installing 1,012 rock bolts into the ground during the blockade.

The bolts will hold rock netting in place that will catch loose rocks, and in the areas where required, hold the ground together.

The Argus: Network Rail said the work will take place in Hove between Saturday, September 18, and Friday, October 1 Network Rail said the work will take place in Hove between Saturday, September 18, and Friday, October 1

Network Rail is also working with the local community on replanting options to offset the vegetation removed by the works.

Over the weekend of September 18 and 19, engineers will also conduct repair work at Wilbury Road Bridge to strengthen the structure, track circuit upgrades between Brighton and Hove and wheel timber renewals at Shoreham Viaduct to improve the reliability of train services.

Network Rail Sussex route director Shaun King said the work is “absolutely vital to keeping trains running safely and reliably for passengers”.

“Hove is a key location on our railway network and any disruption here has the potential to disrupt services across the Brighton Main Line,” he said.

“We will continue to engage with passengers and lineside neighbours and thank them for their patience while we carry out this work.”

Customer services director for Southern Chris Fowler said while inconvenient to customers, it is “essential safety work”.

“Therefore, we’re urging anyone travelling along the West Sussex coast in this 14-day period to plan ahead and check before they travel as there will be changes to services, and some journeys will take longer than usual,” he said.