Southern trains are literally falling apart.

For months, beleaguered passengers have been forced to cope with delays, cancellations and industrial action, prompting calls for the struggling network to be taken into public ownership.

Now, it seems even the trains themselves are giving up the ghost.

Commuters travelling on the 7.45am from Tattenham Corner to London Victoria were shocked when what appears to have been a large metal panel fell from the ceiling in the second carriage.

The panel fell on two girls who were travelling on the train, according to passenger Kate Baxter.

She said the girls, who suffered bruising, “got off the train at East Croydon and [were] advised to seek medical assistance themselves".

David Tidey was travelling to a meeting to Victoria in the first carriage on the train, which he described as one of Southern's "older stock".

Your Local Guardian:

Shocked passengers on the train this morning. Photo: Kate Baxter

He added: "When it pulled in a lady came to the front of the train to speak to the platform operator to say the ceiling had fallen in on people.

"It fell in the front of the second carriage. I got off to take a look, the train eventually left East Croydon but they locked the carriage."

In a tweet to Southern rail, Mr Tidey said: " This needs to make the press. Your company needs to go."

In reply the company, which recently cancelled 341 scheduled services to try and rectify woeful performance, said it was "flagging this up as a matter of urgency to control".

Your Local Guardian:

Two girls were reportedly injured by the falling panel. Photo: Kate Baxter

Ms Baxter, who took a picture of the fallen ceiling panel, tweeted: "So @SouthernRailUK trains are *literally* falling apart, right on top of us! 😳 Thankfully no-one hurt, just shaken."

A spokesman for Southern said: "Reports have been received of a ceiling panel dislodging in one of the carriages on the 07.45 Southern service from Tattenham Corner to Victoria.

"Southern staff at East Croydon station boarded the train to attend to passengers and it was reported at the time that there were no injuries. The cause of this incident is currently unknown and will be investigated fully. 

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused".

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