BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - 08/11/2024 Passengers exit Platform 2 at Brighton Station on Friday, November 8, 2024.
Rail passengers heading to the Brighton Marathon Weekend are being urged to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys, with Preston Park and London Road stations closed until 11am on Sunday 6 April due to safety concerns amid high demand.
With tens of thousands of runners and spectators expected in the city for the Brighton Marathon, 10K, and Brighton Miles events, train operators Southern and Thameslink are making changes to station access and services to ensure safe travel throughout the weekend.
Preston Park and London Road Stations Closed Until Late Morning
On Sunday morning, Preston Park and London Road (Brighton) stations will remain closed until 11:00 to prevent platform overcrowding at these smaller local stations. Instead, Brighton station will remain fully open all day, acting as the central hub for marathon participants and visitors.
Event marshals will be on hand at Brighton station to direct passengers to the marathon start line at Preston Park, which is around a 15-minute walk away.
Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Southern and Thameslink, said:
“With so many people taking part in this year’s Brighton Marathon Weekend, we are closing Preston Park and London Road stations on the morning of the event to avoid overcrowding.
Instead, passengers will be asked to travel via Brighton station, where there will be plenty of space to marshal runners and spectators in safety.
Good luck to everyone taking part!”
Additional Engineering Works Affecting East Coastway Line
Passengers travelling from further afield should also be aware of engineering work affecting the East Coastway line near Lewes across the weekend. Rail replacement buses will operate on various routes, including:
- Three Bridges to Lewes via Plumpton
- Haywards Heath to Plumpton (minibus)
- Plumpton to Lewes (minibus)
- Lewes to Polegate
- Brighton to Seaford via Lewes
- Brighton to Polegate
Trains that usually run between London Victoria and Eastbourne, Hastings or Ore will instead be diverted via London Bridge to Brighton, while an amended service will operate between Polegate and Ore.
Travel Advice for Marathon Participants and Spectators
- Use Brighton station to access the start line at Preston Park.
- Allow extra time to walk from Brighton to the start and back from the finish at Hove Lawns.
- At peak times, queuing systems may be in place at Brighton and Hove stations to manage crowds safely.
- Check train times, especially if connecting via Lewes or travelling on the East Coastway line.
The Brighton Marathon Weekend, which features the Brighton Miles, Brighton & Hove 10K, and Brighton Marathon, is expected to attract over 20,000 runners and thousands more spectators across Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 April 2025.
