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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| London Waterloo: Rail passengers urged to avoid station | London Waterloo: Rail passengers urged to avoid station |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Platforms 1-14 are out of action | Platforms 1-14 are out of action |
| Rail passengers have been urged to avoid London Waterloo after major signalling problems, with disruption expected until the end of the day. | Rail passengers have been urged to avoid London Waterloo after major signalling problems, with disruption expected until the end of the day. |
| South Western Railway (SWR) has issued the warning for customers attempting to travel to and from the station, which is the busiest in Britain. | South Western Railway (SWR) has issued the warning for customers attempting to travel to and from the station, which is the busiest in Britain. |
| Although a temporary fix is in place, a significantly reduced service is operating on a limited number of lines. | Although a temporary fix is in place, a significantly reduced service is operating on a limited number of lines. |
| Fourteen out of its 24 platforms are currently closed, the rail firm said. | Fourteen out of its 24 platforms are currently closed, the rail firm said. |
| Two services an hour are running between Reading and London, while other stations including Queenstown Road and Hampton Court have no service at all. | Two services an hour are running between Reading and London, while other stations including Queenstown Road and Hampton Court have no service at all. |
| Demand has outstripped supply at the rail information desk all morning, overrun by customers unable to travel as fresh cancellations have been announced. | Demand has outstripped supply at the rail information desk all morning, overrun by customers unable to travel as fresh cancellations have been announced. |
| The number of people arriving with suitcases suggests most remain unaware of the disruption. | The number of people arriving with suitcases suggests most remain unaware of the disruption. |
| Most services have been disrupted | Most services have been disrupted |
| Network Rail, which is responsible for signalling, confirmed there had been a "major power failure" to cabling equipment that powers signals controlling the Waterloo area. | Network Rail, which is responsible for signalling, confirmed there had been a "major power failure" to cabling equipment that powers signals controlling the Waterloo area. |
| Mark Killick, Wessex route director for Network Rail, said they were "working hard to reintroduce as many trains as we can" but warned of further disruption. | Mark Killick, Wessex route director for Network Rail, said they were "working hard to reintroduce as many trains as we can" but warned of further disruption. |
| He said: "Something that affects half of Waterloo is a major issue and [we] absolutely recognise this has wrecked people's plans today so I'm really sorry for the disruption. | He said: "Something that affects half of Waterloo is a major issue and [we] absolutely recognise this has wrecked people's plans today so I'm really sorry for the disruption. |
| "Our teams have been working since the small hours of the morning to find the issue and resolve it and the great news is that we have now done that." | "Our teams have been working since the small hours of the morning to find the issue and resolve it and the great news is that we have now done that." |
| Emma, from Southampton, told the BBC she had been planning a day trip to London to visit the Science Museum and Natural History Museum with her young daughter but, "everything has been cancelled and we can only get to London if we were willing to do a three-hour detour". | Emma, from Southampton, told the BBC she had been planning a day trip to London to visit the Science Museum and Natural History Museum with her young daughter but, "everything has been cancelled and we can only get to London if we were willing to do a three-hour detour". |
| The trip had already been postponed once as a result of train strikes. | The trip had already been postponed once as a result of train strikes. |
| Martin Benko says he will have to get an alternative train and taxi to reach his workplace | Martin Benko says he will have to get an alternative train and taxi to reach his workplace |
| Commuters are faced difficulties getting to work. Martin Benko said: "I have a presentation in two hours," and the signal failure at Waterloo would add "two to three hours minimum" to his journey. | Commuters are faced difficulties getting to work. Martin Benko said: "I have a presentation in two hours," and the signal failure at Waterloo would add "two to three hours minimum" to his journey. |
| Others have decided to give up on their journeys after realising there are no suitable alternative routes. | Others have decided to give up on their journeys after realising there are no suitable alternative routes. |
| Gareth Dutton says he was meant to travel to Southampton for a gig but, given he had to be there for a certain time, he decided to "turn around and go home". | Gareth Dutton says he was meant to travel to Southampton for a gig but, given he had to be there for a certain time, he decided to "turn around and go home". |
| Another commuter, Anna Henderson, said she has had to call her boss to "tell him I'm not going to make it in", as she is unable to get to Wimbledon. | Another commuter, Anna Henderson, said she has had to call her boss to "tell him I'm not going to make it in", as she is unable to get to Wimbledon. |
| Peter Williams, SWR's customer and commercial director, said: "We are very sorry for the disruption this morning. | Peter Williams, SWR's customer and commercial director, said: "We are very sorry for the disruption this morning. |
| "While the problem is in the Waterloo area we do expect the wider network to be affected as trains and their crews will be displaced." | "While the problem is in the Waterloo area we do expect the wider network to be affected as trains and their crews will be displaced." |
| London Waterloo is the busiest railway station in Britain with 41.4 million passengers travelling through every year. | London Waterloo is the busiest railway station in Britain with 41.4 million passengers travelling through every year. |
| Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| South Western Railway | South Western Railway |
| Rail travel | Rail travel |
| Waterloo | Waterloo |
| London | London |
| Waterloo station | Waterloo station |