Fire on tracks at Gatwick airport’s train station causes huge commuter delays
A fire on the line of the London airport's train station has caused disruption for a number of people heading for flights
COMMUTERS face long delays this morning after a fire on the line at Gatwick airport's train station caused delays into the airport and massive queues heading into London.
Trains were delayed by an average of 35 minutes on the disaster-plagued Southern Trains network, causing nightmares for both holidaymakers and commuters travelling into the capital.
Gatwick Airport said Southern Trains are prioritising trains running into the busy London hub in order to avoid late-runners missing flights - but dozens of commuters have moaned about long journeys into the city.
Severe delays are expected to continue until around 11am this morning, with delays throughout the rest of the day.
Twitter users voiced their frustration as their journeys became affected by the line fire.
Alice said: "Absolute chaos at Gatwick airport!!! Well done @TLRailUK transport police having to step in and calm passengers!!!"
Angry Mario Creatura wrote: "Queue of trains waiting to get into Clapham Junction due to an electrical fault from Gatwick delaying all trains. Every. Single. Day."
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Ted Sanders shared a photograph of delayed trains to London Victoria, complaining: "INCONVENIENCED! An electrical supply problem at Gatwick causes these delays."
Southern Rail Hell Twitter account said: "Now crawling into Clapham having been delayed at Gatwick. Thanks for nothing #SouthernRail. Good to see my money is being used well."
National Rail reported the issue on Twitter, saying: "Delays at #GatwickAirport until the end of the day."
A spokesperson for National Rail said: "A fault with the electric third rail at Gatwick Airport is causing delays of up to 35 minutes to journeys to and from the station. This is expected to continue until the end of service."
Two firefighting crews have been battling the blaze in Crawley after receiving a call shortly after 7am this morning.
A spokesman for the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called at 7.07am to reports of fire on the railway track just outside Gatwick, we have sent two appliances from Crawley who are enroute.
"It's not thought to be a serious fire."
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