Trains cancelled and commuters told ‘do not travel’ after signalling fault

Two major train networks in southern England have suffered a “major signalling fault” and passengers are being warned not to travel until further notice.

At around 4am on Monday, Southern and Thameslink said “no trains” would be running on the networks until further notice.

By 7am some services had resumed but Southern said no Gatwick Express trains will operate this morning.

Rail passengers are facing major disruption and delays due to the widespread signalling failure.

No services between Littlehampton and London Victoria will operate this morning either, Southern said.

Reduced services are operating between Three Bridges and Brighton, and Brighton and Chichester. Passengers have been asked to delay travel until later today or allow “at least” an extra 60 minutes for journeys.

Thameslink trains between Cambridge and Brighton also remain disrupted.

Disruption is expected to last until midday.

Thameslink has warned that it is likely passengers who travel this morning will need to use an alternative train, change trains more often, or use another route. This will take up to an hour longer than usual, it said.

Where trains do operate, they will be very busy, and local buses will also have more passengers than usual.

A number of alternative routes which passengers can use at no extra cost have been signposted.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “At 3.04am there was a loss of power across some of the UK Power Network which significantly impacted our Three Bridges Signalling Centre which controls the signalling, the railway’s traffic light system, across the majority of our Sussex route.

“All signalling was restored at 6.30am and while some Southern services have resumed operating across the Sussex route, a number of Southern and Thameslink services remain significantly disrupted and there are currently no Gatwick Express services in operation until further notice.

“We’re really sorry to any passengers disrupted this morning and we encourage passengers to check with their train operator before travelling for the latest information and updates.”

Elsewhere, Great Western Railway and Elizabeth line services have been disrupted by a landslip between Twyford and Reading, affecting routes to and from London Paddington.

Two out of four lines in the area have been taken out of use, and the capacity has been reduced on the remaining lines.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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