Network Rail has apologised following the discovery of sinkholes near Croydon that caused significant disruption on one of London’s main rail routes to Gatwick Airport. The issue arose during engineering works on Sunday, leading to the closure of lines between Purley and East Croydon and impacting thousands of passengers travelling between central London and Gatwick.
During the emergency rail closures, engineers identified several sinkholes on a bridge located south of Purley station, which raised immediate safety concerns. As a result, all lines through the affected section were closed while crews conducted assessments and stabilised the ground. Repair work continued throughout the day, with services gradually resuming late on Sunday evening.
The rail closures led to cancellations, delays, and last-minute route changes, affecting many passengers travelling to and from Gatwick Airport. Extended journey times and uncertainty were experienced by numerous travellers, prompting Network Rail to advise passengers to check for updates before travelling.
Network Rail emphasised that passenger safety was their top priority, stating that inspections and repairs were essential to secure the affected infrastructure. They also confirmed that tickets valid for travel on Sunday would be accepted on Monday rail services to assist those disrupted by the closures.
Although train services have returned to normal, Network Rail will continue to monitor the damaged area to ensure safe and reliable operations on this important route in the future.
Originally published by UKNIP.
