Another bridge strike at Purley!?

[Islineclear3_1]

My daughter is currently at London Victoria trying to get to Gatwick and Southern are showing delays or cancellations "due to another vehicle striking a bridge in the Purley area"

What is her best course of action? A message on the boards at Victoria is advising passengers to board alternative Southern services - however, if they can't get past Purley, how else is she going to get to Gatwick?

 

[zwk500]

My daughter is currently at London Victoria trying to get to Gatwick and Southern are showing delays or cancellations "due to another vehicle striking a bridge in the Purley area"

What is her best course of action? A message on the boards at Victoria is advising passengers to board alternative Southern services - however, if they can't get past Purley, how else is she going to get to Gatwick?

From Traksy/OTT trains (EDIT) may be passing through Purley on the Slow Lines.

The bridge immediately south of Purley has 2 separate structures - 1 for the Fast Lines (Platforms 1-2) and 1 carrying the Slow & Cat/Tat lines (Platforms 3-6). 1R35 has been in the signal section for a few minutes so is presumably examining.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Thanks. I told her to try for 1H36 which she managed to get. Fingers crossed...

 

[zwk500]

Thanks. I told her to try for 1H36 which she managed to get. Fingers crossed...

Yes, looks like the Down Slow is passable (possibly at reduced speed), 1H36 has the route for departure from East Croydon to the Reversible Slow, so she should get through, albeit slowly as the trains will be signal to signal.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jun 2026 ==

Actually, looking again the bridge immediately south of Purley looks very high and doesn't have a restriction on it: https://maps.app.goo.gl/v3dcyLErgrV59ThK9. Trains are also not weaving back at Purley Jn so I think it might actually be one of the bridges north of Purley, some of which are 1 structure and some of which are several structures immediately alongside each other.

Either way, it looks like all trains are being run via the Slow lines between East Croydon and Purley, so there will be delays and cancellations to manage the restriction on capacity.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Islineclear3_1. What time does/did your daughter need to arrive at Gatwick Airport by? Looks like the train she's on (the 1446 from London Victoria to Littlehampton) is approaching Purley just a few minutes down, next scheduled stop being Gatwick Airport!

 

[greatkingrat]

NRE says tresspassers on the line, not a bridge strike.

 

[D6130]

NRE says tresspassers on the line, not a bridge strike.

If that were the case all lines would have been blocked - not just the fasts - and the traction current switched-off.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

@Islineclear3_1. What time does/did your daughter need to arrive at Gatwick Airport by? Looks like the train she's on (the 1446 from London Victoria to Littlehampton) is approaching Purley just a few minutes down, next scheduled stop being Gatwick Airport!

I'm following the train on OTT. She needs to check in 4-4.30. I told her to get the train early... thankfully she took her dad's advice...

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Train looks to have arrived at Gatwick Airport some 22 minutes down at 15:41, so should now be eligible for some 'Delay Repay'!

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Train looks to have arrived at Gatwick Airport some 22 minutes down at 15:41, so should now be eligible for some 'Delay Repay'!

Yeah I saw that. Me personally, I don't bother with delay repay for short delays like this. I'm just glad that GBR/Southern got her there, still in good time