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London Victoria travel chaos due to signal problems | London Victoria travel chaos due to signal problems |
(35 minutes later) | |
Commuters have been advised to avoid London Victoria railway station after a signal failure caused major disruption across south London. | Commuters have been advised to avoid London Victoria railway station after a signal failure caused major disruption across south London. |
Gatwick Express services are suspended while Southern and Thameslink trains are badly affected, National Rail said. | Gatwick Express services are suspended while Southern and Thameslink trains are badly affected, National Rail said. |
There has been a total loss of signalling power on three separate supplies in the Streatham Common area, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) said. | There has been a total loss of signalling power on three separate supplies in the Streatham Common area, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) said. |
Disruption is expected until the end of the day, National Rail added. | Disruption is expected until the end of the day, National Rail added. |
Victoria is the second busiest station in Great Britain with 75.8 million passenger entries and exits, according to Network Rail figures in 2016-17. | Victoria is the second busiest station in Great Britain with 75.8 million passenger entries and exits, according to Network Rail figures in 2016-17. |
Both Southern and Thameslink have advised passengers not to travel to the capital. | Both Southern and Thameslink have advised passengers not to travel to the capital. |
A spokesman from GTR, which operates Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express, said: "In the meantime passengers are urged not to travel from the south on our remaining services, which will be heavily overcrowded." | A spokesman from GTR, which operates Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express, said: "In the meantime passengers are urged not to travel from the south on our remaining services, which will be heavily overcrowded." |
Gatwick Airport said flight passengers should leave extra time for their journeys. | Gatwick Airport said flight passengers should leave extra time for their journeys. |
National Rail first issued a warning about a fault with the signalling system at about 23:30 BST on Wednesday. | National Rail first issued a warning about a fault with the signalling system at about 23:30 BST on Wednesday. |
Traveller Sophie Cook was forced to stay overnight with a friend in Croydon as cancellations meant she could not make it home to Lancing, West Sussex. | |
She said train staff offered "no info" and that when she continued her journey on Thursday the trains were "dangerously overcrowded". | |
Engineers had not fixed the problem by Thursday morning so all trains were blocked through Streatham Common station causing disruption, cancellations and delays until the end of the day's services. | |
Trains were packed as commuters with tickets to Victoria were allowed on board other services. | |
Elaine Hindal said her train from Harpenden to London Bridge was a "nightmare" while Jessica Edwards said stations were "mobbed". | Elaine Hindal said her train from Harpenden to London Bridge was a "nightmare" while Jessica Edwards said stations were "mobbed". |
Ms Edwards, 34, said she paid hundreds of pounds extra a year to travel on the Gatwick Express from Hassocks to Victoria. | Ms Edwards, 34, said she paid hundreds of pounds extra a year to travel on the Gatwick Express from Hassocks to Victoria. |
She said Thursday's problems meant she was an hour late to work, adding: "I have had to get off at London Bridge and get a bus to Hackney. It's taking ages. | She said Thursday's problems meant she was an hour late to work, adding: "I have had to get off at London Bridge and get a bus to Hackney. It's taking ages. |
"All the stations are mobbed, so it's not even worth trying to get the Overground or Tube." | "All the stations are mobbed, so it's not even worth trying to get the Overground or Tube." |
You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
People stranded at railway stations had to use buses to reach the Tube network, with some complaining that they had to pay for bus travel. | People stranded at railway stations had to use buses to reach the Tube network, with some complaining that they had to pay for bus travel. |
Amelia Howard wrote on social media: "@SouthernRailUK can you tell buses to accept train tickets as the whole of Carshalton station is closed. | Amelia Howard wrote on social media: "@SouthernRailUK can you tell buses to accept train tickets as the whole of Carshalton station is closed. |
"Just been told by bus (157) driver (who was very rude) I can't use it and I've paid £2k for my train ticket! Absolutely ridiculous." | "Just been told by bus (157) driver (who was very rude) I can't use it and I've paid £2k for my train ticket! Absolutely ridiculous." |
A National Rail spokesman said: "We have had engineers working on site overnight doing all they can to fix the problem. | A National Rail spokesman said: "We have had engineers working on site overnight doing all they can to fix the problem. |
"However, we anticipate that the signalling will not be up and running this morning. | "However, we anticipate that the signalling will not be up and running this morning. |
"We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the fault and passengers are being advised not to travel with Thameslink, Southern or Gatwick Express from the south into London this morning." | "We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the fault and passengers are being advised not to travel with Thameslink, Southern or Gatwick Express from the south into London this morning." |
The issues have also affected Thameslink services between Luton and Wimbledon, which have been suspended until the end of the day. | The issues have also affected Thameslink services between Luton and Wimbledon, which have been suspended until the end of the day. |
The disruptions come as GTR is set to launch a special compensation scheme for people severely affected by a chaotic timetable change in May. | The disruptions come as GTR is set to launch a special compensation scheme for people severely affected by a chaotic timetable change in May. |
Alternative travel | Alternative travel |
Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express tickets are valid for travel on the following services, via any reasonable route, including: | Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express tickets are valid for travel on the following services, via any reasonable route, including: |
Source: National Rail | Source: National Rail |
Have you been affected by the disruption to train services today? Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the disruption to train services today? Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |