Passengers irate after Southeastern trains are delayed because of a plastic bottle on the track
Commuters were left furious on Monday morning after they experienced train delays because there was a plastic bottle on the track.
Southeastern trains apologised for the disruption caused by the bottle, which was lodged in the part of the line used to direct trains to their designated routes.
The bottle was trapped in a part of the track at London Bridge Station.
UPDATE: #LondonBridge an obstruction (Plastic Bottle) in the point equipment (which directs trains to their correct route) has been found to be the cause of the signal problem affecting platform 8. Network Rail staff will shortly go onto the track to clear this when safe to do so
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) February 26, 2018
Southeastern said on Twitter: “An obstruction (Plastic Bottle) in the point equipment (which directs trains to their correct route) has been found to be the cause of the signal problem affecting platform 8.
“Network Rail staff will shortly go onto the track to clear this when safe to do so”.
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As a result, Platform 8 was closed and trains heading towards Charing Cross had to leave from Platform 9 instead.
However, the explanation caused anger on social media from commuters who were delayed because of the plastic bottle.
Neil Grainger tweeted that it was an “absolute bloody joke” that he was sat on a slow-moving Southeastern train.
So due to a plastic bottle on the line, I was turfed out at a cold snowy Orpington, train that was due to pick us up sped past us. Finally got on another train where I had to stand the rest of the way and am an hour and ten minutes late so have missed my first meeting! https://t.co/zxNSgXehIe
— Natalie Chapman (@_NatalieChapman) February 26, 2018
Love being stuck on a the train for over an hour because of a plastic bottle on the line… I repeat … PLASTIC BOTTLE. pic.twitter.com/z0pMbx8DpI
— niamh louise (@niaamhcleland) February 26, 2018
It's a bottle!! This happened an hour ago and my train is crawling. Just move it, I need to get work!
— Emily (@EmilyPearson6) February 26, 2018
Good start to Monday morning. Sat on a slow moving @Se_Railway train because there is a ‘plastic bottle’ on the line. Now 30 minutes late. Absolute bloody joke.
— Neil Grainger (@GraingerNeil) February 26, 2018
Natalie Chapman tweeted: “So due to a plastic bottle on the line, I was turfed out at a cold snowy Orpington, train that was due to pick us up sped past us.
“Finally got on another train where I had to stand the rest of the way and am an hour and ten minutes late so have missed my first meeting!”
UPDATE: #LondonBridge Network Rail staff will be taking a line blockage on platforms 8 & 9 to go and clear the obstruction and check the point workings to ensure all is ok. We will have limited trains stopping at London Bridge during this time, travel to Waterloo East & back.
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) February 26, 2018
UPDATE: The line has been cleared at #LondonBridge and trains will return to using platforms 8 & 9 for services towards Charing Cross shortly.
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) February 26, 2018
Southeastern later tweeted that Network Rail staff had moved the bottle from the tracks and that the line had been cleared to allow services to return to normal.
The disruption came at a bad time for the rail company and its commuters, with heavy snow forecast for today.
Southeastern has already recommended that passengers leave work early and complete their homeward journeys on Monday evening before 6pm.