This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-36210107
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Vauxhall Station fire: Ongoing disruption follows blaze | Vauxhall Station fire: Ongoing disruption follows blaze |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rail passengers have been told it is "not yet possible" to say when services will be reintroduced following a fire on the tracks at Vauxhall station. | Rail passengers have been told it is "not yet possible" to say when services will be reintroduced following a fire on the tracks at Vauxhall station. |
| The blaze broke out in signalling cables under one of the platforms in central London shortly after 02:30 BST. | The blaze broke out in signalling cables under one of the platforms in central London shortly after 02:30 BST. |
| Travellers were left stranded at stations across the network earlier, with those who managed to get on a train saying services were very full. | Travellers were left stranded at stations across the network earlier, with those who managed to get on a train saying services were very full. |
| South West Trains and Network Rail apologised "for the inconvenience". | South West Trains and Network Rail apologised "for the inconvenience". |
| Only four out of eight lines into the station are open due to the fire. | Only four out of eight lines into the station are open due to the fire. |
| South West Trains and Network Rail said they were "working hard to reintroduce services" but passengers are warned major disruption will continue until at least the end of the day. | South West Trains and Network Rail said they were "working hard to reintroduce services" but passengers are warned major disruption will continue until at least the end of the day. |
| Network Rail said it suspected the fire was caused by a spark from a passing grinder train that was smoothing out worn rail tracks. | |
| Commuter Sam Cooper tweeted that Waterloo was at a standstill at 17:30 BST: "Absolute chaos getting out of London tonight!" | |
| Another passenger Neil Ord said the travel information boards and the train apps were giving out different information that was "adding to the chaos". | |
| Passengers on South West services into and out of the city have been advised to travel only if "absolutely necessary" and to use alternative routes where possible. | |
| Tickets will be accepted on Southern, Great Western Railway and Transport for London services, the train company said. | Tickets will be accepted on Southern, Great Western Railway and Transport for London services, the train company said. |
| Services to and from Waterloo are severely delayed and the bus station at Vauxhall has also been closed. | Services to and from Waterloo are severely delayed and the bus station at Vauxhall has also been closed. |
| One passenger trying to go home commented on Twitter: "Ok, so now you don't have staff at Waterloo so trains aren't leaving!!!" | One passenger trying to go home commented on Twitter: "Ok, so now you don't have staff at Waterloo so trains aren't leaving!!!" |
| Commuter Mark Matthews said at 16:55 BST: "Currently stuck waiting for any train home at Clapham Junction. Any train at all would be nice." | Commuter Mark Matthews said at 16:55 BST: "Currently stuck waiting for any train home at Clapham Junction. Any train at all would be nice." |
| Earlier Clapham Junction station was temporarily evacuated and shut because of overcrowding due to the knock-on effect of the fire. | Earlier Clapham Junction station was temporarily evacuated and shut because of overcrowding due to the knock-on effect of the fire. |
| Mick Cash, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, said he had received reports from members of "dangerous overcrowding" on trains and at stations. | Mick Cash, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, said he had received reports from members of "dangerous overcrowding" on trains and at stations. |
| Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, called for the rail regulator to hold an inquiry into the "severe levels of overcrowding" in London and the South East following "chaotic scenes" during the morning rush hour. | |
| "Incidents will happen on the busiest lines in the country, but passenger safety must come first at all times," he said. | "Incidents will happen on the busiest lines in the country, but passenger safety must come first at all times," he said. |
| London Fire Brigade confirmed the fire was put out by 08:20 and an investigation into its cause was under way. | London Fire Brigade confirmed the fire was put out by 08:20 and an investigation into its cause was under way. |
| 'Buses weren't stopping' | 'Buses weren't stopping' |
| Chris Hills was among those evacuated from Clapham Junction earlier and told BBC News the manner in which the message was broadcast caused anxiety for some passengers. | Chris Hills was among those evacuated from Clapham Junction earlier and told BBC News the manner in which the message was broadcast caused anxiety for some passengers. |
| "For many commuters, including myself, as we listened to these almost aggressive sounding instructions to 'get to an exit immediately'... images of Paris and Brussels came to mind. | "For many commuters, including myself, as we listened to these almost aggressive sounding instructions to 'get to an exit immediately'... images of Paris and Brussels came to mind. |
| "We were being instructed for six to seven minutes by voices that sounded panicky and gave no explanation as to why we needed to evacuate as quickly as possible, until a calm voice explained the mass congestion was the cause," he said. | |
| He said an explanation earlier on would have reduced the risk of mass hysteria that was thankfully avoided. | He said an explanation earlier on would have reduced the risk of mass hysteria that was thankfully avoided. |
| Gabriella Calderon, travelling from her home in Surbiton to her work place in North Greenwich, said she was stranded without any information at Surbiton station. | Gabriella Calderon, travelling from her home in Surbiton to her work place in North Greenwich, said she was stranded without any information at Surbiton station. |
| "The staff were very unhelpful and complaining about having to repeat themselves to commuters. I eventually was told to go to Wimbledon via bus and take the District Line to Westminster and then the Jubilee Line to North Greenwich. My commute this morning took a total of three hours." | "The staff were very unhelpful and complaining about having to repeat themselves to commuters. I eventually was told to go to Wimbledon via bus and take the District Line to Westminster and then the Jubilee Line to North Greenwich. My commute this morning took a total of three hours." |
| She said as the fire had been causing problems for three hours before she arrived at Surbiton station, staff should have been ready with information and advice for commuters by morning rush hour. | She said as the fire had been causing problems for three hours before she arrived at Surbiton station, staff should have been ready with information and advice for commuters by morning rush hour. |
| Silvia Mendes was trying to get on a bus after Clapham Junction was evacuated and said: "Buses were so full they weren't stopping. | Silvia Mendes was trying to get on a bus after Clapham Junction was evacuated and said: "Buses were so full they weren't stopping. |
| "Clapham Junction was a sea of people and I can only expect the same this evening." | "Clapham Junction was a sea of people and I can only expect the same this evening." |
| Vauxhall Station: Facts and figures | Vauxhall Station: Facts and figures |
| The disruption in detail | The disruption in detail |
| For the latest information visit South West Trains website. | For the latest information visit South West Trains website. |
| Are you in the area? Has your journey been affected by the incident? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you in the area? Has your journey been affected by the incident? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or comment here: | Or comment here: |