Replacement Buses, Storm Timetables and the 7am Scramble: Shoreham to Brighton When the Coastway Line Stops

The Coastway Line is the quiet workhorse of the Sussex coast. It gets people from Shoreham and Southwick into Brighton, from Lancing up to London, and from Sompting into Worthing without much fuss. Until it doesn't. As of 2026, planned engineering works, winter storms and the occasional short-notice cancellation can still turn a straightforward morning into a platform huddle and a bus that seems to be taking the scenic route through every suburb in West Sussex.

This guide is for the days when the train is not running and you need to make a decision quickly: wait for the replacement bus, or book a cab. It is not about pointing fingers at the train companies. It is about getting to work, school, a flight or a hospital appointment with your patience intact.

Start with the right kind of bad news

Not all disruption behaves the same way. Planned engineering work usually comes with a published timetable and replacement buses that run to a rough schedule. Storm disruption is messier: trees on the line, flooding near the coast, speed restrictions and buses that may not be able to reach the station forecourt. Short-notice cancellations are the wild card. A train can vanish because of a signalling fault, a crew shortage or a problem further down the line, and the replacement bus may not be arranged with the same urgency.

Check more than one source before you commit. The Southern app, National Rail Enquiries and the station departure boards should all be saying roughly the same thing. If they are not, ask station staff which bus stop is actually being used. Replacement buses often pick up outside the station rather than at the taxi rank, and at smaller stations the stop can change at short notice.

The honest replacement bus maths

The train from Shoreham-by-Sea to Brighton usually takes around 20 minutes. A replacement bus on the same route is often 50 to 75 minutes once you allow for traffic, stops and the queue to board. From Lancing, the train to Brighton is roughly 25 minutes; the bus can be 60 to 85 minutes. Southwick to Brighton by train is about 15 minutes; the bus is usually 45 to 65 minutes. Lancing to Worthing is a short train hop, but the replacement bus can still take 20 to 35 minutes depending on the diversion.

Cost is where it gets interesting. If you already have a valid rail ticket, the replacement bus is normally included. If you are buying separately, expect a normal local bus fare. A cab is obviously more expensive, but it is not always as expensive as people assume when there are two or more of you. As an indicative guide for a weekday daytime journey, not a quote, a pre-booked cab from Shoreham-by-Sea to central Brighton might be around £28 to £38. Southwick to Brighton might be £25 to £35. Lancing to Brighton might be £32 to £45. Sompting to Worthing might be £10 to £16, while Sompting to Brighton might be £35 to £48. Split four ways, those fares start to look less alarming.

Where to meet a cab at each station

Shoreham-by-Sea is the easiest of the bunch. The station forecourt off Station Road is the obvious pickup point, and there is usually space near the taxi rank. On replacement bus days it can get congested, so set your pickup pin to the station forecourt rather than the middle of Station Road. If the forecourt is blocked, walk to the nearest safe side street and message your driver with the name of the road.

Southwick is tighter. The station sits on Southwick Street, and the immediate area is not designed for a fleet of cars doing three-point turns. Ask for the station approach or a nearby side street rather than a stop on the double yellows. If you are coming off a replacement bus, tell the driver which direction you are walking so they can meet you without blocking the bus stop.

Lancing station has a forecourt and a station approach that works well for pre-booked pickups. On busy mornings, the road outside can queue, so be ready to jump in and go. If roadworks or a closure affect the station approach, agree a backup point on South Street before you book.

Sompting does not have its own station, which is the first thing sat-navs get wrong. Most residents use Lancing or Worthing station, or pick up the replacement bus from a nearby main road stop. If you are booking a cab, say whether you want Lancing station, Worthing station or a specific landmark such as the village hall or a main road junction. Do not just tap the postcode and hope.

Group sharing, school runs and the 7am crunch

Weekday mornings between 7am and 9am are the pressure point. If you know the trains are off, book the night before or at least 60 to 90 minutes ahead. A cab for four neighbours from Lancing to Brighton can cost less per head than a peak-time bus fare once you factor in the wait, and it gets everyone to the office or college in one go. Schools and nurseries add another layer: child seats, buggies and tired legs do not mix well with a crowded replacement bus.

For return journeys, book ahead if you are coming back after the last reliable train. Storm days are not the time to rely on a taxi app showing five cars nearby. A local firm that knows the station approaches and the back routes around the A27 is worth the small amount of planning.

When to choose the cab and when to stay on the bus

If you are travelling alone, flexible and already holding a rail ticket, the replacement bus is usually the sensible choice. If you are in a group, carrying luggage, heading for a flight from Shoreham Airport, or trying to make a fixed appointment in Brighton, a pre-booked cab is often the calmer option. The bus is cheaper on paper; the cab is cheaper on the morning when you would otherwise lose two hours and a chunk of your sanity.

The Coastway Line will keep having bad days. The trick is to have a plan B before you are standing on a cold platform at 7.15am. Adur Cab Co covers Shoreham, Southwick, Lancing, Sompting and the surrounding coast, so if the boards go blank, you can at least get a straight answer about the best way forward.