Rail replacement bus service affected by ‘extremely heavy traffic’ in East Grinstead after South East Water sets up water collection point

Southern made the announcement at about 5pm on Saturday and again at 9.43am on Sunday.

The message said: “There is a rail replacement bus service running between Three Bridges/Gatwick and East Grinstead today. Unfortunately, due to a water shortage problem in East Grinstead, South East Water have set up a water collection point in the Sainsbury’s car park next to East Grinstead station.

“Due to this, there is extremely heavy traffic on the surrounding roads, delaying buses that are running to East Grinstead station. This is now affecting rail replacement bus services at both the Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport end of the operation.”

But at 11.34am on Sunday, Southern announced: “Disruption caused by congestion at East Grinstead has now ended. Services are no longer affected by this problem.”

South East Water had announced a location change to the East Grinstead bottled water stations on Saturday at 10pm. The Facebook post said: “Our bottled water stations will be located at: East Grinstead Sports Club, Saint Hill Rd, East Grinstead RH19 4JU; Queensway Car Park, Queen’s Road, East Grinstead, RH19 1BG.

Both stations are set to close at 10pm and will remain open until customer supplies are returned to normal.

The news comes after South East Water (SEW) said some customers in the East Grinstead area were without mains water on Saturday and Sunday. An estimated 16,500 homes in East Grinstead have been affected.

Mims Davies, the MP for East Grinstead and Uckfield said on Facebook on Saturday: “The worst situation has come to pass in every way. People are struggling to get their emergency supplies and to get to the water stations – which with rail replacements taking place in EG hasn’t helped the traffic flow.” In a video message on Saturday she called the situation ‘bedlam’ in the town.