Tragedy struck the railway lines into London as a person was found dead on the tracks near Shortlands station in Bromley. The incident, which led to the closure of the route between Victoria Station and Bickley, unfolded in the early hours of November 28.
At approximately 5:00 am, Southeastern railway services were halted in both directions between Victoria Station and Bickley due to what was described as an “incident” that required the attention of emergency services. The closure came after reports that an individual had been observed on the railway tracks near Shortlands station in Bromley.
British Transport Police swiftly responded to the incident. A spokesperson for the force provided details of the tragic event, stating, “Officers were called to the line near Shortlands railway station at around 4:50 am today following reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics also attended, but sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Authorities have clarified that the incident is not being treated as suspicious, and they will prepare a report for the coroner to determine the circumstances of the person’s death.
During the disruption, railway journeys were rerouted through Chislehurst. Additionally, images circulated on social media depicting large crowds that had gathered at Bromley South station as travellers experienced delays and cancellations.
Southeastern railway services reported at approximately 7:20 am that the affected route had been reopened, but delays and cancellations were expected to persist. However, by 9:26 am, the company announced on Twitter that the incident had been cleared, and their services had returned to normal.
While the immediate disruption to railway services has been resolved, the tragic loss of life serves as a sombre reminder of the challenges faced by emergency services and commuters during unforeseen incidents on the railway network.
