A series of sinkholes discovered near a railway bridge in south London has brought train services to a grinding halt, stranding thousands of commuters and travellers. The sudden collapse of the ground beneath the bridge, made during planned engineering work on Sunday, has forced the closure of all lines between Purley and East Croydon.
Network Rail confirmed that its engineers found "a number of sinkholes" on a bridge south of Purley station, prompting an immediate shutdown to ensure passenger safety. A structural engineer is due to inspect the site, but with the line not expected to reopen until at least Monday morning, travel chaos is set to persist.
The rail network operator has advised passengers against travelling if their journey involves the affected routes, while those who must travel will have limited alternative services available – although these are likely to be extremely busy. Southern Railway, one of the primary operators affected, echoed this advice, warning customers that alternative routes are scarce and may take up to 90 minutes longer.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Network Rail in maintaining critical infrastructure, particularly in areas prone to geological instability. Such unplanned closures can have significant knock-on effects, impacting daily commuters, leisure travellers and those connecting to international flights from Gatwick Airport.