Thameslink trains are back on track following a dramatic fire at Peckham Rye station that caused significant disruption on the line. The fire broke out just before 3pm on Wednesday, 21 May, halting services between Elephant & Castle and Bromley South.
Timeline of disruption:
2:50pm: Fire reported on a stationary Thameslink train at Peckham Rye, stopping all travel between Elephant & Castle and Bromley South.
3:15pm: Power was cut off between Denmark Hill and Nunhead to help tackle the blaze.
3:17pm: Trains were not allowed to travel via Denmark Hill, with services diverted through Herne Hill.
3:30pm – 4:30pm: Lines gradually reopened but delays continued.
5:07pm: National Rail confirmed Thameslink services had returned to normal.
Several stations were missed as trains skipped stops, including Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Crofton Park, Catford, Bellingham, Beckenham Hill, and Ravensbourne.
Southern trains at Peckham Rye continued to operate from separate platforms without disruption. Meanwhile, services were rerouted to maintain London travel:
- London Victoria to Dartford trains ran via London Cannon Street.
- Gillingham-bound trains passed through Herne Hill, skipping stops.
- Sevenoaks trains were diverted via Beckenham Junction.
Emergency crews quickly extinguished the fire, and specialist teams inspected the train before declaring it safe. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains unknown, with an internal investigation underway.
Commuters expressed mixed feelings about the incident. One passenger said, “Stuck between stations for 40 minutes. No info. No air-con. Not good enough.” Another added, “Thanks to the firefighters for a quick response at Peckham Rye. Could’ve been worse.”
Thameslink has advised passengers to check for updates and allow extra time for travel tonight as delays may still occur.
Originally published by UKNIP.
