UMVA has learned that chaos erupted at Gatwick Airport as desperate holidaymakers queued outside the airport for hours after a series of sinkholes near a railway bridge cancelled all trains to London.
The sinkholes, discovered by engineers during planned maintenance outside Purley, prompted the immediate closure of all lines between Purley and East Croydon, leaving travellers scrambling for alternative ways to reach their destinations. The sudden disruption has caused widespread frustration, with many passengers forced to wait in long queues for replacement buses or seek out pricey taxis.
As the situation spiralled out of control, taxi drivers took advantage of the chaos, charging as much as £250 to get to East Croydon. The exorbitant prices only added to the misery of passengers, who were already seething with frustration after waiting in line for hours.
The train operator has warned that the line is expected to remain out of action until at least Monday morning, urging people to postpone their travel plans. In a statement, the company apologized for the disruption, assuring passengers that they are working to safely reopen the railway as quickly as possible.
Southern Railway has announced that there are no services between Purley and East Croydon, and has advised customers not to travel. The company has also warned that alternative routes will be extremely busy, with delays of 90 minutes or more expected.
For those still attempting to travel, Southern Rail has provided some guidance on its latest travel advice. Services between London Bridge and Caterham are running as normal, but may experience some delays. Trains from London Victoria towards Bognor Regis or Portsmouth Harbour will divert via Dorking, if possible, and will not run between Clapham Junction and Horsham.
Meanwhile, Southern services between London Victoria and Ore or Littlehampton will only run as far as Haywards Heath, and will be cancelled between London Victoria and Haywards Heath. Passengers are advised to plan their journeys carefully and be prepared for significant delays.
