Rail passengers have been left out in the cold after Southeastern locked up the waiting rooms and toilets at Bickley station.

Station bosses claim they are forced to close the waiting rooms and toilets to prevent criminal damage when station staff are not available to monitor the platforms.

Bemused commuters are wondering how long the situation will go on for, with some saying they have not seen the waiting rooms open for more than two years.

Nigel Perry, of Stafford Road in Sidcup, uses Bickley station on his commutes to Canary Wharf and Westminster each week.

The 51-year-old said: “I’m sure people have been using the areas beneath the stairs as you walk up to the ticket office as a loo.

“There are mums waiting with their babies in prams. The smell is terrible not to mention the hygiene risks.”

Mr Perry said he has not seen the waiting room or toilets open once in the two years he has been travelling from Bickley.

He said: “The passengers are freezing and I hate seeing the elderly passengers huddled up in their coats.”

Civil servant Vince Evans said he often changes trains at Bickley station on his journey to and from work.

The 44-year-old, of Tillingbourne Green in Petts Wood, said: “For years, I have never seen any toilets here or the waiting rooms open.

“I spend two months a year travelling round Europe on trains and I have never seen worse facilities.”

A spokesman for Southeastern said waiting room opening hours are confined to when Bickley station is staffed.

He said: “Unfortunately, despite the existence of CCTV at all our stations, vandalism and anti-social behaviour can be an issue.

“Leaving the waiting room open when staff are not available to monitor the situation has resulted in criminal damage that’s forced to close waiting rooms, pending repairs, causing yet more inconvenience to passengers.

“Toilets were available some time ago but due to repeated vandalism they had to be closed.

“It’s unfortunate that the irresponsible and criminal actions of a few people make life more difficult for our passengers by forcing the closure of some facilities.

"We regularly review areas for improvement as part of our investment programme, but we don’t currently have plans to re-open the toilets at Bickley.”