Southern has issued a warning to football fans heading for the victory parade on Sunday – don’t try getting the train back to Brighton from Hove.
The train company is adopting the same approach as it does to Pride when it closes Preston Park Station – the nearest station to the park.
Brighton and Hove Albion players, staff and directors are taking part in the victory parade in an open-top bus on Sunday.
Thousands of fans are expected to line the route from the Palace Pier end of Madeira Drive where the bus is due to leave at 5pm. It should reach Hove Lawns at about 6.30pm.
Later, Brighton and Hove City Council is hosting a civic reception for the club.
Southern said: “Passengers should expect long waits at stations and allow more time for their journey if travelling by train on Sunday 14 May when thousands of people will head for Brighton to enjoy the Seagulls’ Premier League promotion parade.
“Hove station, close by where the parade ends at 7pm, will be exit only from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and there will be colour-coded queuing systems at Brighton Station to help passengers wait for the right services.”
Angie Doll, Southern’s passenger services director, said: “We’re so pleased for the club – Sunday will be a landmark for when tens of thousands of people are expected to travel to Brighton to watch the promotion parade.
“Fans should stagger their journeys if taking the train. We’ll be running as many extra coaches along the coast as possible but there will inevitably be long waits at the station with colour-coded queuing systems in place.”
The train company added: “Passengers are advised to allow more time for their journeys and to check before they travel on www.nationalrail.co.uk.”
