Embarrassing reason for East Grinstead rail chaos revealed

Passengers at East Grinstead station have faced overcrowding and huge delays this morning because of the strike and a mystery '˜operational incident'.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Oct 2016, 09:20 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2016, 14:34 BST

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Passengers have reported that the station has been overcrowded and chaotic. Picture: Ben LeevesPassengers have reported that the station has been overcrowded and chaotic. Picture: Ben Leeves
Passengers have reported that the station has been overcrowded and chaotic. Picture: Ben Leeves

After more than an hour a train left the station at 8.55am, though disruptions and cancellations are expected to continue.

For more East Grinstead rail news click here.

The chaos was blamed on the rail strike but also on an ‘operational incident’ between East Grinstead and Oxted that closed the line .

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A spokesperson for Southern Rail revealed that the operator had experienced ‘difficulties bringing a longer 12-carriage train into service this morning’ which held up other trains.

The kicker? The extra-long train had been brought in to try and ease the effects of the strike on passengers. The full release said:

“There were difficulties bringing a longer 12-carriage train into service this morning which had been planned to give passengers affected by the RMT’s strike more capacity on the East Grinstead route.

“This also held up the drivers for other trains we were due to operate.”

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