Airport trains back on track

Passengers were taken back to Gatwick on a relief train

Train services have returned to normal following three days of disruption after a Gatwick Express train partially derailed.

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 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.

Gatwick Express reduced its timetable to half-hourly departures, but since 0430 BST on Thursday the company has reverted to its normal schedule of 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.

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

Among the other firms whose trains were affected were South Central, Thameslink, Connex and Thames trains.

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