ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Commuters told of their anger after rush-hour rail services across south London were plunged into chaos when a man jumped onto a railway line, removed his shirt and started rapping.

Passengers told of three-hour delays as the trespasser at Norwood Junction in south London threw the network into meltdown after climbing onto the tracks at 6pm on Monday night.

Police with Tasers arrived to detain the trespasser, who said “I want to be on YouTube” as he belted out expletive-laden lyrics to bemused crowds waiting on the platform.

He fled down the track towards East Croydon before officers could reach him.

The line was re-opened at 7.30pm but because the man had not been traced, trains had to travel at reduced speed through the busy interchange throughout the evening.

The disruption created a “perfect storm” on the transport network causing delays on dozens of services from Victoria, London Bridge and Gatwick stretching down to Brighton and the Sussex coast.

At least six of Southern’s lines were affected and main routes across south-west London were still experiencing major disruption past midnight.

Advertising executive Matt Wood, 24, spent two-and-half hours on a train making the 11-mile journey from London Bridge to East Croydon last night.

He told the Standard: “It was crazy. We were packed on the train like sardines and I was standing up the whole time.

“It’s ridiculous that a man doing that can pretty much shut down the whole rail network in south London.”

Other commuters told of “journeys from hell” on Twitter.

Writer Lucy Cameron said: “I love when some plonker walks on the tracks and delays my train by an hour and a half. I never wanted dinner anyway #NorwoodJunction.”

Sophie Price wrote: “The man dancing on the tracks at Norwood junction is probably the most hated man in the south London this evening.”

One rail expert explained the incident had happened at the “worst possible place” in terms of the impact it had on the train network.

He said: “At the end of the day, thousands upon thousands are instantly affected. What can you do when at 6pm on a weekday someone runs about where the London Bridge lines meet the Victoria lines?”

Lianna Brinded, editor of Business Insider, watched the drama unfold at Norwood Junction.

She told the Standard: “We noticed this guy swaying in the middle of the tracks. I don’t know if he was drunk.

“The guy started taking off his clothes and shouting and then he broke out into an impromptu rap. He also asked if he could have a cigarette.

“At first people were sympathetic but as it got colder and colder people got angrier and more frustrated.”

She eventually left and took a cab home to Horsham.

A British Transport Police spokesman said today police were conducting enquiries to identify the trespasser.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “At 6.04pm we were alerted to a trespass incident at Norwood Junction Station.

“All trains on the lines were stopped to assist British Transport Police and at 7.26pm we re-energised the lines and are cautioning trains through the station.”

A Southern spokesman said: ”We apologise to passengers who were disrupted yesterday evening when all lines were blocked.

“Services had to be stopped as emergency services dealt with reports of a trespasser between Norwood Junction and East Croydon.”