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Lineside fire disrupts South East rail services

Bob DaleSouth East
Southern Railway A hole with a spade beside it and a piece of burnt out signalling equipment.Southern Railway
The company shared this picture of the damaged signalling equipment on social media

Rail services between London, Sussex and Surrey are facing disruption after a lineside fire caused "extensive damage" to signalling equipment.

Operator Southern Railways said the blaze happened between Gatwick Airport in West Sussex and Purley in Croydon, south London, on Sunday evening.

On Monday afternoon it said all lines had now reopened, but disruption was expected to continue until about 15:00 BST.

On social media the company said: "Our engineers are working really hard to return our railway to normal but we have extensive damage."

Getty Images A train with Southern's Green and white logo stands at the platform of Victoria Station in London.Getty Images
Southern's services are affected following the fire

Services between London Victoria and Eastbourne have been suspended until further notice.

Other services between London and the Sussex coast will make additional stops.

Passengers travelling from London are able to use their tickets on the underground, to transfer to alternative services.

Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express services to Heathrow Airport are also being disrupted because of a tunnel closure.

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