Train chaos has hit London today as three key stations are suffering from severe disruption.
Commuters were advised to avoid Waterloo station this morning after overrunning engineering works led to the majority of trains being cancelled. Although London’s busiest transport hub has now reopened, disruption to South Western Railway services is expected to continue until at least 6pm, according to National Rail.
Meanwhile, earlier signalling problems at Milton Keynes Central disrupted Caledonian Sleeper, London Northwestern Railway (LNR), Southern and Virgin Trains services; trains didn't start running normally again until 4pm.
East Midlands services between Bedford and Kettering were suspended earlier after a person was hit by a train. Trains from Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield to London St Pancras have resumed, but delays of up to 60 minutes and cancellations are expected to continue throughout the afternoon and evening.
Follow all the latest travel updates below.
Hundreds of thousands of commuters' journeys into Waterloo station have been disrupted this morning.
The vast majority of trains serving London Waterloo are electric. One diesel train did manage to arrive from Salisbury just after 7am this morning – with thousands of commuters squeezed on board. It departed for Exeter 10 minutes later.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We apologise to passengers for the disruption to services across the South Western network this morning owing to a possession overrun.
“Disruption, including severe delays and cancellations, will last until the afternoon.”
As trains and train crew are in the wrong locations for their planned operations, services are unlikely to be back to normal until the start of the afternoon rush.
Rail chaos has now spread to the West Coast main line from London Euston to the West Midlands, northwest England and Scotland, according to The Independent's travel correspondent, Simon Calder.
Signalling problems at Milton Keynes Central have led to massive disruption.
In the half-hour from 8.30am to 9am, Virgin Trains to Birmingham, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester were cancelled.
It's the second time in four months Waterloo has been brought to a standstill by overrunning engineering works.
One commuter, Silvia Mendes, demanded to know from Network Rail: “What will you be doing to ensure there’s no repeat of this?
“Overrunning engineering works’ seems to be a recurring theme.
“Quite frankly, when paying £400 a month, it really isn’t good enough.”
Commuters have shared their frustration on the lack of communication from Network Rail and South Western Railway on social media.
"I get the chaos at Waterloo is not your fault but how about some decent communication?" tweeted Michael Kitchener. "You advertise a train leaving at 8:54 as on time.
"It’s 09:03 still sitting on the platform and not a single announcement from the driver!"
South Western Railway has confirmed that tickets will also be accepted on certain Reading bus routes: 500 (Park & Ride) between Winnersh Triangle and Reading; 703 between Martins Heron and Reading; and X4 and 4 between Reading and Bracknell.
There are more engineering works planned this week, finishing on 24 March.
Major disruption between Milton Keynes Central and London Euston is expected to last until 1pm today, according to National Rail.
Caledonian Sleeper, London Northwestern Railway (LNR), Southern and Virgin Trains services are affected.
Fewer trains than normal are currently able to run through Milton Keynes Central, resulting in some services being cancelled or revised. Journey times could be 90 minutes longer than scheduled.
LNR trains that start from or terminate at Milton Keynes will instead start/terminate at Bletchley.
Southern services that start from or terminate at Milton Keynes Central will instead start/terminate at Shepherds Bush. Watford Junction services will run as normal, subject to delays.
No Virgin Trains services are currently departing London Euston. Where possible, trains will start/terminate at Birmingham New Street, Milton Keynes Central, Rugby or Milton Keynes Central. Some services will be held until the line reopens.
Tickets for all operators can be used on a variety of other services - click here for more information.
All lines have reopened to and from London Waterloo following overrunning engineering work earlier this morning.
Trains are now able to run to and from London Waterloo, but during the closure, trains were unable to leave a number of depots and get to where they needed to be.
This has had a knock-on effect, and journeys could take up to 60 minutes longer than advertised as a result.
Some trains will also be cancelled or revised at short notice.
A normal service is expected to resume from 2pm, according to National Rail.
Sensors on the track, which measure a train’s speed and location, have been damaged near Milton Keynes. Without the data the sensors provide, signallers cannot run trains safely on the network.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “We are really sorry to train passengers impacted today by a track fault near Milton Keynes. Our engineers are working to fix the problem as soon as possible. Passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries or with their train operators for the very latest travel information.”
More train chaos ensues, this time at London St Pancras.
No trains are running on the East Midlands line between Bedford and Kettering, according to travel correspondent Simon Calder, meaning services from Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield to London St Pancras are suspended.
National Rail said: “A person has been hit by a train between Kettering and Bedford, resulting in all lines being blocked. There is no firm estimate as to when lines will reopen, however, we anticipate trains will remain disrupted until at least 2pm.
"Trains are currently unable to run between Kettering and Bedford. Some trains will also be cancelled throughout or start from/terminate at alternative stations. Journey times may be extended by up to 90 minutes."
National rail has revised its advice for Waterloo station, saying normal service is not expected to resume until 6pm (updated from 2pm).
In the meantime, travellers are advised that journey times could take an hour longer than usual.
All lines have reopened through Milton Keynes Central, but delays of up to 80 minutes are still expected.
For those travelling into Waterloo, tickets will also be accepted on London Underground services between London Paddington and Waterloo and Richmond/Wimbledon and Waterloo.
Certain London bus routes will also be accepting tickets.
Although lines into Waterloo have reopened, all trains appear to be cancelled or suffering severe delays, according to a picture of the departures board posted on Twitter:
Trains are currently unable to run between Kettering and London St Pancras International after a person was hit by a train, blocking all lines.
National Rail says: "There is no firm estimate as to when lines will reopen, however, we anticipate trains will remain disrupted until at least 3pm."
The following amended timetable is being implemented:
Southbound
XX:00 Sheffield to London St Pancras will terminate at Kettering calling additional at Market Harborough
XX:12 Nottingham to London St Pancras will terminate at Kettering
XX:29 Sheffield to London St Pancras will terminate at Leicester
XX:41 Corby to London St Pancras will run independently between Corby & Kettering and Bedford & London St Pancras
XX:45 Nottingham to London St Pancras will be cancelled
Northbound
XX:02 London St Pancras to Sheffield will be started from Leicester
XX:05 London St Pancras to Nottingham will be started from Kettering
XX:31 London St Pancras to Sheffield will be started from Kettering
XX:34 London St Pancras to Nottingham will be cancelled.
XX:47 London St Pancras to Corby will run independently between London St Pancras & Bedford and Kettering & Corby
If your train journey has been delayed or cancelled today, you may be entitled to a refund from the retailer of your ticket or compensation from the Train Company, according to National Rail.
The compensation offered depends on:
- Which train company you travelled with
- Ticket type
- Length of the delay
Customers are advised not to travel by train from Kettering this morning, according to National Rail.
Tickets will be accepted on alternative services and a replacement bus service is operating between Kettering, Wellingborough & Bedford and between Kettering and Corby.
Train trouble has spread to the North, reports Simon Calder.
National Rail says: “The emergency services are dealing with an incident between Manchester and Leeds resulting in all lines being blocked.
"Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed or revised."
"Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed or revised."
Disruption is expected until 1.30pm.
TransPennine Express passengers are able to travel on East Midlands or Northern services between Sheffield and Leeds, and on Northern services between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester (Piccadilly or Manchester).
National Rail adds: "Replacement road transport will also be in operation shortly."
Some lines have reopened between Kettering and London St Pancras International, allowing a reduced service to operate.
The line from London towards Leicester has reopened, but trains are still unable to run from Leicester to towards London St Pancras International.
The line from London towards Leicester has reopened, but trains are still unable to run from Leicester to towards London St Pancras International.
For those booked to travel between Leicester and St Pancras, ticket easements are in place.
Advance purchase ticket may be used on trains other than the one originally booked.
Off peak tickets may be used on trains other than the one originally booked.
If you have a ticket dated for travel today (22 March) and decide not to travel, you can use your ticket to travel tomorrow (23 March) instead.
The 11.09am London Waterloo service to Guildford, due to depart at 12.20pm, will no longer call at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Earlsfield, Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Motspur Park, Worcester Park, Stoneleigh, Ewell West, Epsom, Ashtead, Leatherhead and Bookham, according to @Rail_Complainer.
