Lewisham train derailment: Southeastern Railway commuters hit with major delays after freight train derails
A derailed freight train has caused major delays for commuters in south London.
Services were delayed, cancelled or diverted after the derailment at Lewisham at just before 5.50am on Tuesday.
Passengers complained of a hellish journey to work while Southeastern Railway warned the disruption would last all day.
Southeastern commuters were left waiting on freezing platforms as Network Rail revealed trains running to and from London's Charing Cross and Cannon Street were severely disrupted.
All trains from New Beckenham, Sidcup, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks to Charing Cross and Cannon Street were cancelled completely.
The route to and from Charing Cross from Hastings was diverted to London Bridge via Redhill while outbound Ramsgate trains were diverted to Victoria.
Southeastern responded to commuters' concerns that their journeys home may also be disrupted, and said: "It's hard to say. As soon as the issue at Lewisham is cleared we will recover the service."
Passenger Rebecca Cradick, travelling from Paddock Wood in Kent to Waterloo East for work, called it “yet another commuter day of hell”.
She told the Standard: “Trains are busy but running.
“[It's] hugely inconvenient for most clearly but depends what the Tube is like.
“I think it will be worst for trains leaving Kent now as they will have bigger issues. [I'm] on a very early train so the full impact is not felt yet.”
Martin Wingate said on Tuesday the “south east is crippled” while commuters worried they would not be able to get to work.
A morning of #train hell - my plans have been derailed. Literally! @Se_Railway #lewisham #southeastern
— Liz Gough (@LizzGough) January 24, 2017
Well this is going to an interesting journey to work as a train has derailed at Lewisham. Arrived at Orpington station and it is carnage.
— Jonathan Redman (@jonathan_redman) January 24, 2017
Southern eastern trains with the adventure this morning. Avoid #CharingCross Station if you're traveling towards Lewisham. #NotWorking
— Benny Bonsu (@MsBennyBonsu) January 24, 2017
Luke Mears said: “Typical. The one day I try to get to work early a freight train derails in Lewisham.”
He added: “Utter chaos at my station this morning.”
Among the commuters delayed was Tom Copley, a London Assembly member who was on his way to a joint meeting of the housing and planning committee.
He tweeted: "Attempting [to] get into City Hall on the bus as all @Se_Railway trains through Lewisham are cancelled due to a freight train derailment."
Attempting get get into City Hall on the bus as all @Se_Railway trains through Lewisham are cancelled due to a freight train derailment
— Tom Copley (@tomcopley) January 24, 2017
He added Thameslink was "rammed", with many other commuters reporting similar overcrowding on the Docklands Light Railway.
Ana Martins set out to travel from New Beckenham station to Charing Cross but said the "absolute chaotic commute" forced her to work from home.
She told the Standard: "In the end I was able to work from home as my manager was in a similar situation.
"All trains were being shown as delayed, but no one at the station knew what was going on. We were told that our best bet was to go Beckenham Junction."
Delays and cancellations on #Southeastern after derailed train @ #lewisham pic.twitter.com/ZKdFVJyls7
— daniel maclaren (@danmacl) January 24, 2017
@Se_Railway trains running late and platform closed at Dartford to avoid overcrowding I guess. pic.twitter.com/EICXc9eVP3
— Shoney S. Joy (@ShoneyJ) January 24, 2017
At just after 9.30am one commuter said on Twitter: "I left home at 7.30 this morning and I'm not at work yet. I'm currently on my second bus of the day and I'm only trying to get to Lewisham."
I left home at 7.30 this morning and I'm not at work yet. I'm currently on my second bus of the day and I'm only trying to get to Lewisham.
— Han (@hanlondon) January 24, 2017
@delga derailed freight train in the worst possible place basically - p much all Southeastern lines go through Lewisham so all cancelled!
— Han (@hanlondon) January 24, 2017
Network Rail said no one was hurt in the partial derailment, between Lewisham and Hither Green, and engineers have been on site since 6.15am.
Andy Derbyshire, chief operating officer for Network Rail’s South East route, said: “The cause is being investigated and our engineers are on site assisting the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to gather the information they need before the train can be removed and any repairs to the track carried out.
"It is too early to say at this point how long that will take, so we strongly advise passengers to check before travelling for the latest information.”
A freight train has derailed in the #Lewisham area. All services through the area will be disrupted, with some services suspended
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) January 24, 2017
Update #Lewisham: Tickets being accepted on DLR, Thameslink, London Underground, Tramlink and London buses
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) January 24, 2017
Richard Dean, Southeastern's train services director, added: “Please check before travelling and leave more time for your journeys following the derailment of a freight train at Lewisham, which has heavily impacting our services.
“The freight train needs to be removed by Network Rail, who will then need to assess any damage to the track and carry out any repairs needed. We would please urge anyone who has seen their journey delayed by 30 minutes or more to claim Delay Repay via our website.”
Buses for Blackheath, Eltham, Greenwich, Lewisham, Sidcup and Woolwich were reportedly jam packed as people piled on to avoid the Southeastern chaos.
Southeastern Railway said tickets were being accepted on all London bus routes, the Tube, Thameslink, Tramlink and Docklands Light Railway.
The rail company has put on a shuttle service between Hayes and New Beckenham and Dartford to Sidcup.
A spokesperson for the British Transport Police said officers were sent to Lewisham rail station following the derailment.
They added: "No one has been injured. All services through the area are affected and there are likely to be delays throughout the day."