ANGRY passengers at East Croydon were left stranded in the rain at the station's brand new entrance because the ticket machines were flooded.
Recent heavy rain has left all four ticket machines at the new bridge out of service, meaning ticketless passengers have to walk round to the front of the station.
The lifts up to the new overhead walkway are also currently broken.
The bridge, a joint project between Croydon Council and Network Rail, cost £20 million and was opened in December.
Vivian Bailey, from Thornton Heath, was hoping to use the entrance this afternoon as she made her way to Gatwick Airport with heavy bags.
However, she was told she would not be allowed to enter without a ticket by the member of staff manning the barriers.
She told the Advertiser: "We have had to carry all of our things up the stairs because the lifts weren't working and when we asked if we could be let in to buy a ticket elsewhere he just shouted at us to walk around the side.
"They told us the machines were flooded. How can they be flooded? Who designed this because it can't cope with any rain."
Another passenger demanded that a member of staff carry his luggage round to the front of the station, which the rail worker duly did.
A spokesman for Southern Rail, who operate the station, said: "We would like to apologise to customers who are currently unable to purchase tickets from the ticket machines at the new entrance at East Croydon station.
"Unfortunately, there has been an unprecedented amount of rain leading to water ingress which has rendered the machines unusable.
"We are working with our suppliers to make repairs as quickly as possible, but in the meantime, customers requiring tickets are advised to walk around the station to purchase from ticket machines at the front of the station."
