Get you up to speed: Major disruption to last all day at London Victoria after fire near Clapham Junction tracks | News UK
A trackside fire near Clapham Junction caused damage to signalling equipment, disrupting services to London Victoria. Passengers are advised to use alternative London terminals as an extremely reduced service is running, with delays expected to last until at least 2pm.
Emergency engineering repairs are underway at London Victoria following damage to vital signalling equipment, with operations expected to resume at least by 12:00. Major disruption is anticipated to last until at least 14:00, impacting numerous services, particularly Southern and Gatwick Express trains.
National Rail has advised commuters to avoid travelling to and from London Victoria this morning, urging the use of alternative terminals due to damage from a trackside fire. An emergency engineering repair operation is underway, and major disruptions are expected to last until at least 2pm, with a limited service operating in the interim.
What remains unclear — The exact timeline for the restoration of full services to and from London Victoria remains unspecified.
Disruption at London Victoria expected to continue all day due to fire near Clapham Junction
Commuters travelling through London Victoria are urged to use other stations after fire damage near the tracks.
Rush hour journeys have been hampered this morning after a trackside fire near Clapham Junction struck yesterday.
Vital signalling equipment was damaged after being engulfed by flames.
The worst affected services include Southern and Gatwick Express trains to and from Victoria, including to Gatwick Airport.
Trains that can run are expected to be extremely busy, and trains between Clapham Junction and London Victoria Hill face delays of up to 60 minutes.
National Rail said: ‘If you are planning to travel to or from London Victoria this morning, you are strongly advised to use an alternative London terminal instead.
‘An extremely reduced train service is running to and from London Victoria until at least 12:00, as emergency engineering repairs have been taking place overnight and throughout this morning.
‘We strongly advise that you delay travelling until later today or use an alternative route. Where possible, please travel into alternative London terminals and use the London Underground to complete your journey.
‘A limited half-hourly service will operate between London Victoria and East Croydon. These trains are expected to be extremely busy and should only be used if you cannot delay your journey or are unable to travel via an alternative terminal.’
Footage from the scene of the fire shows firefighters hosing down the smouldering remains of the signalling equipment, which appears to have burned to the ground.
Major disruption is expected to last at least until 2pm, National Rail said.
A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade told WTX that the cause of the fire is believed to have been ‘accidental.’
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They said: ‘Firefighters were called to a fire near a railway station on Queenstown Road in Nine Elms.
‘The fire caused damage to trackside signalling equipment and an area of shrubbery and grassland. There are no reports of any injuries.
‘Control Officers took the first of nine calls at 1408 (27/09) and mobilised two fire engines from Clapham and Battersea fire stations to the scene. The fire was extinguished by 1510.’
Which trains will be disrupted?
The good news is that London Overground and South Western Railway services can run as normal.
However, several routes will be ‘heavily disrupted’ throughout the day.
This includes trains:
- Between London Victoria and Ore
- Between London Victoria and Littlehampton
- Between London Victoria and Epsom Downs
- Between London Victoria and London Bridge
- Between London Victoria and Dorking
- Between London Victoria and Brighton
- Between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction
- Between London Victoria and East Grinstead
- Gatwick Express between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport
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