Sinkholes Near Purley Bridge Halt Gatwick, Brighton Train Services

Train services connecting London with Gatwick Airport and Brighton faced suspension on Sunday after engineers identified several sinkholes near a railway bridge. The disruption originated south of Purley station, where Network Rail had been conducting planned engineering work.

Urgent repairs are now underway, leading to the closure of all lines between Purley and East Croydon. Network Rail stated that these measures were implemented for passenger safety, pending a thorough inspection by a structural engineer. The Gatwick Express service from Victoria has also been suspended.

The affected rail line is anticipated to remain out of use until at least Monday morning. Network Rail has advised passengers to avoid travel if possible, though tickets are being honoured on alternative routes for essential journeys.

Southern Railway confirmed the lack of services between Purley and East Croydon, also urging customers against non-essential travel. The operator warned of limited and potentially overcrowded alternative routes, noting that some journeys may be unfeasible or subject to delays of up to 90 minutes.