Sinkholes near railway bridge halt Gatwick trains

Article excerpt

Engineers working near Purley railway station discovered multiple sinkholes during routine maintenance, forcing Gatwick Express and Southern Railway to suspend services on the affected line. The ground collapse, identified while crews conducted engineering work, created a safety hazard that required immediate closure of the bridge structure. Network Rail and train operators have begun assessment work to determine the extent of the damage and establish when services can resume. The incident disrupted passenger journeys between central London and Gatwick Airport at a time when the rail network has faced mounting pressure to improve reliability and service quality.