Southern Railway disruption as lorry hits railway bridge

Trains have been disrupted after a vehicle collided with a bridge in Surrey.

Southern Railway said just before 10:00 BST on Wednesday a lorry carrying several skips hit the bridge on Racecourse Road between Lingfield and Dormansland.

It said the railway line between Oxted and East Grinstead was closed and that trains were at a standstill.

Just before 12:00 National Rail said lines had reopened, though added trains running between these stations could still be cancelled or delayed by up to 15 minutes.

Southern Railway said 45 minutes later all lines were blocked again to ensure “everyone’s safety” while a crane was used to remove the skips.

Southern Railway had said lines could only reopen once the vehicle was safely removed and the track and bridge inspected.

Trains will be running at an “extremely reduced speed” as the line reopens, it detailed.

Engineers were on the scene, Southern Railway said in an update published on X, at around 10:45.

It previously urged people on trains that were not at a station and not moving to stay onboard.

Those travelling on trains between London Victoria and East Grinstead may also need to use alternative routes, Southern Railway added.