A TRAIN company has been forced to cancel one of its routes after power outages caused level crossings to fail.

The signalling system and level crossings between Eastbourne and Hastings stopped working yesterday from about 1pm, prompting police to attend.

Pevensey station was one of the train stations affected.

Work overnight has failed to fix the problem and Southern are advising that there will be no trains on the line until around 12pm.

The Argus: The power outages started Sunday afternoonThe power outages started Sunday afternoon

A Southern Rail spokesman said: “A loss of power has caused the signalling system and level crossings to fail in the area between Eastbourne and Hastings.

“Because of this you are strongly advised not to travel on journeys between Eastbourne, Hastings and Ashford International.

“Network Rail colleagues have been on site working on this fault overnight but have not been able to fix the issue. Staff will continue on working on fixing the issue throughout the morning.”

Another update from Southern has confirmed that buses will replace trains between Eastbourne and Hastings until the end of the day.

The loss of power happened in the Cooden Beach area has meant the signalling system which helps manage safe passage of trains is not working.

The Argus: There is a mass train strike starting tomorrowThere is a mass train strike starting tomorrow (Image: NQ Staff)

The A259 Wallsend Road in Pevensey is still closed both ways due to the power outage.

This morning, services between Ore and London Victoria will only run between Eastbourne and the London station.

While Brighton to Hastings services will start at Eastbourne.

Eastbourne and Ashford International will be replaced by a limited Hastings to Ashford International shuttle service.

People travelling from Hastings to London or Brighton are advised to take Southeastern services via Tonbridge.

This has caused the signals that train drivers use to know if the track ahead is safe to be blank, and has caused level crossings to stop working.

Until the power has been restored, trains are unable to run between Eastbourne and Hastings.

Commuters are set for more travel chaos, as RMT Union members at Network go on strike from tomorrow.