Commuters were left frustrated at London Waterloo on Monday, 21 July 2025. A major signalling failure left a large number of passengers stuck. This is among the busiest railway stations in the UK. The failure began at about 5:30 am, affecting platforms 1 to 14, and brought train traffic to a standstill at the hub.
“Do Not Travel” Advice Made by South Western Railway
South Western Railway (SWR) issued an immediate “Do Not Travel” alert. They advised passengers of blanket cancellations, more than an hour behind schedule, and changes to routes. The engineers fixed the technical issue. Nevertheless, crew availability and displaced stock can still affect regular service during the day.
In response to the disruption, National Rail and SWR set up emergency travel plans to help affected passengers:
- Valid tickets on Great Western Railway, Southern, and CrossCountry services on disrupted routes
- SWR rail tickets being accepted by London Buses
- Travel extensions and full refund of tickets until Tuesday for journeys that were not used
Public Reaction and Continued Frustration
Social media buzzed with complaints from passengers. They described the experience as a “disaster” and “unacceptable.” This came after a similar shutdown occurred over the weekend. Anxiety increased as commuters struggled to find new routes. They dealt with crowded platforms and detours.
SWR hasn’t shared the exact reason for the failure. However, railway officials believe it may be due to technical issues with track circuits or axle counters. These are key parts for safely positioning and routing trains.
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SWR Apologizes to Passengers
SWR issued a statement, stating:
We are very apologetic for the disruption this incident has caused to our customers. Our teams are working diligently to restore service, but interruptions will continue into the evening.
