Rail services across southeastern London were thrown into chaos early Saturday morning after a car drove onto the train tracks at New Beckenham station.
Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 4:30 AM following reports of a silver Ford vehicle on the tracks. Photos from the site show firefighters inspecting the car to ensure no one was trapped inside.
Emergency Response
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service confirmed that paramedics and an incident response officer attended the scene but were stood down as there were no patients to treat.
The car was removed from the tracks, and Network Rail conducted a thorough safety inspection of the line before reopening it.
Southeastern Railway Statement
Steve White, managing director of Southeastern Railway, highlighted the recent challenges faced by the rail network, stating:
In the last 48 hours, our railway has been affected by three bridge strikes and this road traffic accident.
Passenger Impact
Although lines reopened later in the morning, passengers were warned to expect delays of up to 25 minutes or cancellations. On social media, frustrated commuters expressed disbelief:
“How on earth did he/she manage to do that?”
“Not again! This is the exact same place as a couple of years ago.
Investigation Underway
Both the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police have been approached for comment as investigations continue into how the car ended up on the tracks.
Network Rail Apology
Network Rail issued an apology to passengers, saying:
“We thank all passengers for their patience during this time and are sorry for the impact this has had on their journeys.”
