Learner driver crashes double-decker into Norwood rail bridge

Top-sliced: the bus driver's training manual clearly said nothing about not taking the turn on to Portland Road Rail services were suspended into and out of Norwood Junction, while Portland Road was closed to traffic for a period this afternoon after a double-decker bus drove into the railway bridge which carries one of the main lines from Croydon to London. Apparently, the bus driver involved was undergoing training.

Eyewitnesses at the scene suggest that no one was hurt in the collision, which sliced the roof off the double-decker. A sharp-witted Inside Croydon reader wizzed a couple of photos over from South Norwood. It is not the first occasion when this kind of collision has happened, but locals remain baffled how such an avoidable incident can recur so often.

Crunch: collisions into the bridge out of Norwood Junction Station happen all too often

At 12.19pm, Southern Railway tweeted: "A road vehicle has collided with a railway bridge in the Norwood Junction area. "Due to the nature of the incident, all lines in this area have closed to ensure safety. Your journey will be disrupted."

Journey times were "extended by up to 30minutes", according to Southern, who advised passengers to consider taking an alternative route. Though not along Portland Road, obviously...

Trains between Victoria and West Croydon were affected, as were services between London Bridge and Uckfield, Epsom, Caterham and Tattenham Corner - so something that needs fixing urgently, before the start of the Derby meeting tomorrow.

By 1pm, Southern was saying on its socials: "All lines through this area have now reopened and you might no longer need to use an alternative route. "However, trains need to run with a speed restriction over the bridge until normal train running speeds can be resumed."

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