Gatwick Airport passengers hit by railway line flood

Rail services between London and Gatwick Airport have resumed with severe disruption, after a burst water main flooded the track.

People travelling to the West Sussex airport were advised to allow three extra hours following the flooding near South Croydon station, south London.

The Gatwick Express is suspended but Southern trains is running a reduced service from Victoria via the airport.

First Capital Connect is running two trains an hour via the airport.

Apologising for the disruption, Thames Water said the main had been shut off at about midday and engineers were working to fix the problem.

'Debris on track'

A spokesperson for the firm said it was working with Network Rail to provide any assistance it could.

The burst main, in Stanhope Road, was reported at about 09:40 BST. No water supplies have been affected.

Earlier a Network Rail spokesman said there was a significant amount of water on the track.

He said: "The water cascaded down an embankment and debris, including earth, has also got on to the track."

Further disruption

He said engineers would be working through the night and on Tuesday to stabilise the embankments.

Two of the five railway lines between East Croydon and South Croydon stations reopened just after 18:00 BST.

Gatwick Express services will remain suspended for the rest of Monday with a reduced service expected on Tuesday morning.

Southern services were also likely to be affected on Tuesday morning while First Capital Connect said it would run a full service.

A Gatwick Airport spokeswoman said: "We are advising air passengers of the train situation and are informing them of alternative travel arrangements."