The recent discovery of sinkholes near a railway bridge in south London has led to the suspension of train services to Gatwick Airport and Brighton, impacting numerous travelers. Network Rail expressed regret for the disruption, emphasizing the urgency of repairs needed for safety.
During routine engineering work outside Purley, engineers identified multiple sinkholes on a bridge south of the station, prompting immediate action. As a precautionary measure, all train lines between Purley and East Croydon were closed pending a thorough inspection by a structural engineer. Consequently, the Gatwick Express service from Victoria has also been suspended.
Network Rail has indicated that the affected line is expected to remain out of service at least until Monday morning. In light of the situation, they have advised passengers to avoid travel if possible. For those who must complete their journeys, tickets are being accepted on several alternative routes.
Southern Railway confirmed that there are no services operating between Purley and East Croydon and echoed the recommendation for customers to refrain from traveling. Their website noted that limited alternative routes are available, which are likely to be extremely congested. Some journeys may take up to 90 minutes longer than usual.
„We’re sorry to passengers who have been impacted by this and we’re working to safely open the railway as quickly as possible,“ said a Network Rail spokesperson.
As the situation develops, passengers are encouraged to stay informed about service updates and potential delays.
Quellen: bbc.co.uk
Bildquelle: KI generiert
