Delays at East Croydon station following trespasser on line at Honor Oak Park
COMMUTERS at East Croydon train Railway Station were plunged into travel chaos this morning after a trespasser on the line caused major delays for hundreds of commuters at East Croydon station.
Travellers huddled in the main lobby after being refused entry through the barriers, with many forced to catch taxis and buses to work after platform restrictions remained in place for more than an hour.
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Crowds of people were unable to access the train platforms at East Croydon station - picture by Grant Melton
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Olivia Grace took this picture of passengers waiting to be allowed onto the platform at East Croydon train station
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Lucy Hudson took this picture of passengers waiting at East Croydon train station this morning
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Melissa Blake took this picture of a platform at East Croydon station
British Transport Police said an "extensive" search was carried out by officers following reports of a man on the line around at Honor Oak Park at about 7.22am, but that they were unable to find him.
Services between London and Surrey were cancelled with many delayed up to 45 minutes during rush hour.
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Greg Hinds, 24, a software developer who had been trying to get to Old Street, said: "In the end I shared a taxi and the cost between us because there were hundreds of people on the platform and I really could not risk being late. We had an important meeting. The people who do this are incredibly selfish."
Cathy Bond, 42, of East Croydon, who works in the City, said: "It's just a joke. I pay thousands for my season ticket, then people on the line and everything comes to a standstill.
"They've got to get better at reacting to these situations, there's just no reason this kind of chaos should happen where people aren't allowed onto the platforms."
12 Comments
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by LAFANTASTICA
Friday, January 25 2013, 10:50PM
“Good Night. It is past my bedtime.”
by Mark2
Friday, January 25 2013, 9:48PM
“Lafantastica, you seem to have convinced yourself it was an attempted suicide. I've reread the article and it does not even suggest that. Let's assume then it was a drunk as suggested by Dot_C; I take it you are still sympathetic. What about a vandal or a thief out to steal copper cable putting others lives at risk?”
by realtestman
Friday, January 25 2013, 3:42PM
“All the trains being stopped causing massive disruption is fine, but the problem here was that they didn't find the person at all. If they were sure that someone was on the line, they should have a far better system for being able to stop the continued trespass so that disruption is minimised. From the sounds of things, someone may have seen someone on the tracks and then nothing was done for ages at all save stop trains. This isn't good and they need to review their procedures so that tresspassing incidents are sorted straight away.”
by LAFANTASTICA
Friday, January 25 2013, 3:00PM
“Whether someone is suicidal or not, their life comes first.”
by LAFANTASTICA
Friday, January 25 2013, 2:59PM
“Whether someone is suicidal or not, their life comes first.”
by Dot_C
Friday, January 25 2013, 2:05PM
“LAFANTASTICA, where is it reported someone was suicidal ? I was told by East Croydon Station staff it was a drunk person just roaming around. Until this person is tracked down (assume CCTV is being checked in case it was attempted suicide?) no-one will know what on earth they were doing.
Either way, christopm, I think most people were annoyed at the huge amount of disruption caused by one station closing over everything else. Obviously someone's life is more important than the trains, everyone should know that and I am glad no-one was hurt. It just seems crazy that one station closing can have disruption tail back so far and go on for so long.”
by LAFANTASTICA
Friday, January 25 2013, 12:53PM
“Mark2 - you are appalling. Have you any idea what a suicidal person feels like? Have some sympathy and stop being so appallingly selfish.”
by mike_zzz
Friday, January 25 2013, 9:49AM
“I was turfed off my train at East Croydon at 8.30 and took the opportunity to bolster the local economy with a cheeky Sausage and Egg McMuffin on George Street.
Straight on a train at 9.15 and at my workstation in the City fully sated by 10.00.
A win-win situation.”
by Mark2
Thursday, January 24 2013, 10:21PM
“Just cannot believe christopm's comment (assume he or she was still in bed at the time); I was caught up but went via Victoria in the end. Bet chrisopm also thinks that people working in the 'city' are all propping up the capitalist system. What is it you don't get about about trespassing on railtrack property....yep it is dangerous, illegal and foolish. I say continue running the trains and let the trespasser take his or her chances. The only person I would feel sympathy with is the train driver if contact is made.”
by mador
Thursday, January 24 2013, 5:05PM
“I understand that trains will have to come to a stand still if there is somebody at the tracks...but now I am reading this "British Transport Police said an "extensive" search was carried out by officers following reports of a man on the line around at Honor Oak Park at about 7.22am, but that they were unable to find him."
7.22 AM - they didn't find anybody, and yet the trains have been disrupted for hours?
You have to understand that these kind of "jokes" can cost peoples jobs! Not all workplaces are so understanding when you are running late...”