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An ongoing signal problem at London Waterloo railway station has resulted in widespread cancellations, prompting South Western Railway (SWR) to advise passengers against traveling until at least 21:00 BST. The disruptions affected various routes across the network, leaving commuters stranded as services were called off throughout the morning. While the issue with the signals has been resolved, SWR is gradually reintroducing train services, but passengers are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel until crews and trains are back in their correct positions to enable the resumption of normal operations.
In a joint statement, SWR and Network Rail issued an apology for the inconvenience caused by the disruption. They mentioned that later in the afternoon, they anticipate restoring a consistent train service on several routes, including those to Reading, Windsor & Eton Riverside, and suburban destinations. However, passengers should expect significant disruptions on long-distance routes to Exeter St Davids, Portsmouth, and Weymouth for the remainder of the day. While no reimbursements for taxis will be granted, passengers can utilize their tickets on specified routes with London Buses, Falcon Buses, Stagecoach South, and Morebus, as well as on certain train services on the London Underground, CrossCountry, Southern, and Great Western Railway.
Despite the efforts to restore normal service, passengers like Jessica Halstead, who was at Waterloo station with her children, expressed frustration at the uncertainty surrounding their travel plans. Commuters were observed sitting on the concourse floor, awaiting updates on their disrupted journeys. Meanwhile, Rory Smith, aiming to travel from Southampton to Shropshire for the Camp Bestival event, faced cancellations and outdated travel information on his apps. Another passenger, Dan Cokely, experienced multiple train changes on his trip from Waterloo to Southampton, reflecting on the recurring disruptions he encountered while using British Rail services.
Network Rail’s operations director Tom Desmond extended apologies for the signal malfunction, attributing it to a technical fault initially identified on Saturday. Despite efforts to rectify the issue over the weekend, the problem resurfaced on Monday morning, causing further delays. Desmond reassured passengers that the root cause had been addressed, and efforts were underway to ensure a reliable service. The signal problem, which originally surfaced at 05:30, led to the closure of 14 platforms at London Waterloo. Notably, SWR was the first operator brought under public ownership by the Labour government in May, followed by the nationalization of c2c, another train company, on Sunday, which operates services between London Fenchurch Street and south Essex
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