RAIL upgrades are set to cause travel chaos for commuters early next year.

Passengers travelling between Three Bridges, Brighton and Lewes will be affected by the work which is due to take place for nine days from Saturday 19 to Sunday, 27 February 2022. 

Alternative travel arrangements will be put place for travellers to including replacement buses and ticket acceptance on open routes.

The work is part of the £11 million Brighton Mainline Improvement Project and is aimed at improving reliability and safety on the railway.

It will include rebuilding a railway junction at Haywards Heath, replacing track at Burgess Hill and building a new underpass at Hassocks to provide a safe route under the railway.

National Rail said that by using an extended closure and several weekends, it can get the work done quickly and efficiently.

It said the alternative was up to 20 weekend closures or multiple bank holiday closures over two years.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “Network Rail will use the time when lines are closed to replace 1980s track at Copyhold junction (near Haywards Heath), and at Burgess Hill.

“A new underpass to provide safe access under the railway at Hassocks will also be built during the nine-day closure.

“Additional improvements on the line will be brought into the project over the coming months to ensure as much work as possible is done to give passengers additional benefits and minimise future disruption to passengers and neighbours.”

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.