Railway Problems - Lines Closed

[squashst]

There is a sinkhole opened under Forest Hill station (!) so according to Southern / London Overground there is complete shutdown between London Bridge to East Croydon. Apparently maintenance staff are looking into it (the hole?). Looks likely to be for remainder of day. Not sure what situation is for tomorrow. So looks like fallback routes, Penge East etc etc.

[mosy]

I caught the tail end of a smippet on LBC radio and wondered if I'd heard it right. Here's a pic: https://m.reddit.com/r/london/comments/ ... _sinkhole/

[Eagle]

Mon Dieu

Poor old Southern are going through it at present.

Main thing is no one hurt I guess.

[stuart]

A Southern train has just been spotted discharging passengers at FH. I think it was southbound though the app is showing everything cancelled at Sydenham.

Lots of orange jackets swarming everywhere.

Stuart

[Parker1970]

I spotted this on twitter while I was at work, so I decided to borrow a company car and drive home, also told one of my developers who uses the same line so I agreed to take him home to beckenham too (since the southern service alternative he can get is cancelled with the reduced timetable). Then the sidcup line closed on SouthEastern just as home time came which affected one of my support analysts.

Solution... me being Taxi driver but not charging Uber prices and getting home 1.5 hours later than normal.

No idea how long they plan to keep FH closed, will be driving in tomorrow anyway as I need to take the car back, hopefully that will be enough.

What made me laugh was TFL Rail stating the line was closed and saying "Tickets are being accepted on London Underground and SouthernRail"... I replied stating that it affected Southern Rail too and there are no underground stations out this way or along the route! You'd think they would know that! Later tweets simply stated "Local buses are accepting valid tickets".

[Parker1970]

It looks like this may not be a simple repair.

I will be driving tomorrow via East Dulwich, Peckham common, Nunhead, Old Kent Rd (New X end), South Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Canada Water where my journey will terminate. Leaving at 0830 ish from Sydenham station area, if anyone needs a lift (I have space for 3) please PM me with your phone number and you will be welcome. Radio channel is driver's choice, just FYI

[squashst]

From southern:
On Monday a large hole developed below the track in the Forest Hill area (between East Croydon and London Bridge). Assessments and plans were made to repair and fill the hole with additional ballast material that supports the track and work on this repair has continued overnight. We are not currently able to estimate when the line will reopen however we currently expect a complete closure until at least mid afternoon today, Tuesday 19th July. We will continue to keep you updated as and when information becomes available.

From Network Rail / Thames Water
"Because of the location of the hole we are unable to run trains on this track through to London Bridge this morning and it looks likely that disruption to services will continue throughout the day. Passengers are advised to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys. Further details will follow as soon as they are available. We apologise sincerely for the disruption and assure passengers both Network Rail and Thames Water are working hard to restore the railway to full capacity."

Danny Leamon, Thames Water’s senior operations manager, said: “We’re acutely aware of the importance of this rail route. Our specialist teams worked through the night, and they’ll continue to work as fast as possible today to get the pipe fixed and help Network Rail get the track reopened.
”Our sewer is below the track, but it is too early to say whether the sewer pipe is the cause of the sinkhole.”

[Parker1970]

Latest tweets suggest the line will not be re-opening today. I thought traffic would be a nightmare this morning, but other than a few spots, it was not bad at all. I imagine a lot of people would have simply gone with "Sod it, no trains, hottest day of the year... take the day off " Wish I could've.

[JRobinson]

I cycled to work, in Hackney (about 10 miles)
hottest day of the year, trains screwed, travel card ran out yesterday, ... how many more reasons do I need to cycle to work (for only the second time this year!)

[alburt.c]

I cycled to work, in Hackney (about 10 miles)
hottest day of the year, trains screwed, travel card ran out yesterday, ... how many more reasons do I need to cycle to work (for only the second time this year!)

Wow! JRobinson you now need cold drink. very hot so good rest also.

[I hammer]

Is it fixed (filled) yet?

[stuart]

Is it fixed (filled) yet?

All you need to know is here: http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/ldbboard/dep/SYD
It is supposed to be tomorrow. Well unless tomorrow is postponed to Thursday or even Friday. They may be blocking an active sewer that runs under the tracks so one half of forest hill may have to visit the other half if they need a .....

Seriously, Perry Vale (directly alongside the tracks) was due to be closed for sewer replacement works soon. Could the two be connected?

Stuart

[gillyjp]

With a nod to the inconvenience suffered by commuters to London using this line, I must say that a welcome side effect of the sink hole is that I can actually park in the road I live in for once. I can go out in my car during the day, come back and there are still places to park in my road. Heaven forbid I'm not expecting to park right outside my house but to just park somewhere within walking distance with heavy shopping is bliss. Long may it continue.

[I hammer]

It's fixed!