Britain’s second busiest train station came to a standstill on Tuesday morning after a derailment in the early hours caused chaos for commuters and holidaymakers which is expected to continue all day.

An engineering train came off its tracks at 3am and ended up blocking five of the 19 lines going into London Victoria, which serves the capital’s southern suburbs as well as Sussex, Kent and Surrey, and Gatwick airport.

Network Rail engineers worked throughout the day to get the 50-tonne train back on the rails, using cutting torches to separate the carriages and then lifting them with hydraulic jacks. The aim was to have the vehicles removed by 5pm, which would be too late to provide a full rush hour service from the station.

We've been able to cut the derailed engineering train from the two wagons still on the rails, so we can begin to move them away and get the line back open ASAP. @SouthernRailUK @GatwickExpress CONT pic.twitter.com/upaJgJPyhi — NR South East (@NetworkRailSE) July 9, 2019

The complex operation caused disruption throughout the day, with Gatwick Express running reduced services. People heading for the airport were advised to take Thameslink trains from London Bridge.

A spokeswoman for Network Rail, which is responsible for maintaining Britain’s rail infrastructure, said: “We would like to apologise to passengers affected by ongoing disruption on Southern trains into London Victoria this morning owing to a derailed engineering train. We are working to remove the derailed vehicle as quickly as possible.”

She said passengers were advised to travel later in the day if possible and to seek an alternative route via London Bridge or London Blackfriars as trains were being delayed, diverted or cancelled.

Photograph: Network Rail/PA

Passengers expressed their anger and frustration throughout the morning on social media, with much of their ire directed at the – for once blameless – companies that run the services rather than Network Rail.

“Southern Rail yet again, you amaze me. All trains from London Victoria to Brighton. I need to get down there ASAP and you’ve completely scuppered up my day. Your company is just pure garbage,” wrote Miljan Glenny on Twitter.

And nads2 tweeted: “No trains to London Victoria low speed derailment means trains disrupted till 19:00 WTF how hard can it be to move a train #southernfail #3rd world train service”.