Delays continue after train derails

Passengers were taken back to Gatwick on a relief train

Commuters have been warned that disruption caused after a train partially derailed is set to continue until Wednesday evening "at the earliest".

The 0520 BST service from Gatwick Airport was travelling at about 80 mph to London when it partly came off the rails near Redhill, Surrey, at about 0545 BST on Monday.

The derailment blocked two tracks between Gatwick and Purley leading to severe disruption to trains on the London to Brighton route and other south coast routes.

A spokesman for Gatwick Express said: "We will continue to run a half-hourly service until Wednesday evening at the earliest.

"We will reassess at Wednesday lunchtime whether we can reopen the line and return to our normal departures every 15 minutes."

After the incident, the 26 passengers on board were eventually taken back to Gatwick by a relief train.

No-one was seriously injured, although one woman received treatment for whiplash.

It's a little bit early to tell at this stage as to exactly when we will put our full services back

David Stretch, managing director of Gatwick Express

There were delays of up to an hour for commuters heading home on Monday night.

Among the other firms whose trains have been affected are South Central, Thameslink, Connex and Thames trains.

David Stretch, managing director of Gatwick Express, said: "We've directly reduced our services.

"I would like to ask our passengers and the general travelling public to try to stagger their journeys home this evening and also into work tomorrow morning."

On Monday evening, all services on the South Central line were being delayed.

'Extensive disruption'

Connex South Eastern services between Tonbridge and Horsham were cancelled.

The Tonbridge to Redhill line had re-opened but passengers were still experiencing some delays on Monday evening.

The National Rail Enquiries website warned of "extensive disruption" for rail passengers.

The Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate is looking into the incident.