Huge plumes of smoke can be seen for miles over south London after a waste dump fire brought rush hour to a standstill.
Thick black smoke pours out of a recycling centre between London Bridge and Dartford shutting all lines between the stations on Monday evening.
A train driver told passengers the fire erupted at a factory around 5.30pm.
Commuters stuck at London Bridge reported a ‘strong smell of burning around the station’.
Grace Greenwood, who was passing through London Bridge on the 6.10pm service, told Metro: ‘I’m glad to report the train windows were shut so thankfully I couldn’t smell anything.
‘However, the smoke was visible from quite a way before we went past the fire.
‘The man next to me pointed it out from well before London Bridge.
‘As we went past there were still large visible flames and firefighters tackling it.
‘Thankfully, my journey wasn’t affected but it definitely caught the attention of everyone on board. Hopefully everyone at the scene is ok.’
Around 100 firefighters are tackling the fire on Landmann Way in Bermondsey.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ‘Due to the significant amount of smoke in the area, local residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed.’
‘Two of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders have been deployed to the scene to help fight the fire from above.
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‘Control Officers took the first of multiple calls at 5.32pm and have mobilised crews from Deptford, Old Kent Road, Greenwich and surrounding fire stations to the scene.’
A Thameslink spokesperson added: ‘Due to a fire on the property near the railway between London Bridge and Dartford.
‘All lines are blocked between these stations.’
How does this affect your journey?
The Windrush line currently has no service between Surrey Quays to New Cross, Crystal Palace, West Croydon or Dalston Junction to Higbury & Islington due to the fire. There are severe delays on the rest of the line.
Trains are being diverted to London Victoria or may be revised or cancelled.
Hasting line services to start and terminate at Tonbridge
The disruption is expected to continue until 10.30pm, according to National Rail.
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