Rail passengers in south London have faced major disruption today following reports that a person had been hit by a train between Streatham and Tulse Hill.
Services operated by Southern and Thameslink were suspended as emergency teams investigated the incident. However, no evidence was found, and the lines have since reopened—but disruption is expected to continue until at least 10pm.
Train services affected across the network
The incident caused widespread delays and cancellations across the rail network, affecting routes including:
- Southern services between East Croydon, Selhurst and London Bridge
- Thameslink services linking Sutton, Bedford, St Albans, Horsham, Peterborough, Brighton, and Three Bridges
Passengers faced long waits and last-minute changes as rail operators worked to resume normal services.
National rail: Investigation found no evidence
A National Rail spokesperson confirmed that all lines in the Streatham area had been shut down following the initial report.
“There were reports that a person had been hit by a train earlier today.
All lines were shut in the Streatham area whilst this was investigated.
However, no evidence of the incident was found, and the lines have now reopened.”
Although train services have resumed, the aftermath of the disruption means that delays, alterations, and cancellations will continue for several hours.
Commuters advised to expect further delays
Both Southern and Thameslink are working to recover their service, but they have warned that disruptions will continue into the evening. A reduced service will be in place between St Albans and Sutton, and passengers have been urged to check for updates before travelling.
“Southern and Thameslink have begun to recover their service, but there will be ongoing delays, alterations and cancellations.
We advise passengers to allow an extra 15 minutes before travel and check station screens for the latest information.”
Alternative travel arrangements in place
Passengers affected by the disruption are being offered alternative travel options. Rail tickets will be accepted on:
- London buses
- London Trams between East Croydon and Wimbledon
- London Underground services
Despite these arrangements, many commuters have expressed frustration over the sudden delays and lack of clear information earlier in the day.
Commuter frustration and travel chaos
During the disruption, passengers reported packed platforms, confusion over cancelled services, and a lack of clear communication from train operators.
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One commuter at London Bridge said:
“There was no information at all at first. The departure boards just kept changing, saying ‘delayed’ with no explanation. It was chaos.”
Another stranded passenger at East Croydon expressed frustration over the delay:
“I understand safety is the priority, but it’s frustrating when there’s no clear update. I’ve now missed an important appointment.”
Rail operators working to resume normal service
While investigators found no evidence of the reported incident, the disruption has already caused major delays for thousands of passengers.
Rail operators are now repositioning trains and crew to restore normal schedules as quickly as possible, but the ripple effect of earlier cancellations is expected to last into the night.
For now, passengers are advised to check live travel updates and expect ongoing delays across the Southern and Thameslink networks.
