Rail users have been warned to plan ahead to avoid disruption caused by engineering works in October, November and at Christmas.

Services between London Victoria and East Croydon are set to be cancelled and the Gatwick Express is to be suspended on a number of weekends before work begins over the Christmas period.

The closures will affect a number of weekends in coming months. Passengers have been told that they could be set for delays and that they should plan ahead to assure that they get to their destinations on time.

Kristine Harris, senior project manager at Network Rail, said: “This Christmas, our teams will be testing and bringing the new signalling system in to use ahead of commuters returning in January.

The Argus: Rail works will take place over three separate weekendsRail works will take place over three separate weekends

“We know there is never a good time to close the railway but by working for ten consecutive days over the holidays when lines are significantly quieter, means we can get the work completed more quickly and reopen the railway lines on time.”

The engineering works are scheduled to take place on a number of weekends, including:

• Saturday, October 15, and Sunday, October 16.

• Saturday, October 29, and Sunday, October 30.

• Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27.

• Sunday, December 25, to Tuesday, January 3.

Passengers are being advised to use Thameslink and Southern services to London Bridge and London Blackfriars on the affected weekends.

Rail bosses say that the engineering works will aim to provide quicker, more reliable train links between London and the South Coast.

Maintenance works are often planned over the Christmas period in order to cause the least amount of disruption to rail users.

Chris Fowler, customer services director for Southern Railway, said: “We really appreciate our customers’ patience while Network Rail carry out these vital improvement programmes. The results will be quicker and more reliable journeys in and out of Victoria, and a more comfortable experience in the station itself.

“We’re advising people to check journey planners in advance, and for those travelling in and out of central London to use London Bridge or Blackfriars, and their Tube links to Victoria if necessary.”