Passengers at London Waterloo faced major disruption on Tuesday after reports of smoke on the tracks near Vauxhall. South Western Railway (SWR) confirmed that some services were forced to run slower than usual while a safety inspection took place.
The incident occurred amid record-breaking May temperatures, with the UK experiencing its hottest spring day on record. Kew Gardens in south-west London reached 34.8°C on Monday, while 97 Met Office monitoring sites hit or surpassed 30°C.
SWR advised passengers travelling to and from London Waterloo and destinations including Guildford, Woking, Chessington South, Dorking, Hampton Court, Shepperton and Strawberry Hill to allow extra time. The operator stated that all lines had reopened by Tuesday morning, but disruption was expected until 11:00.
“Following a safety inspection of the track between London Waterloo and Vauxhall all lines have now reopened,” SWR said. “Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 11:00 26/05.”
Passengers were urged to check live journey planners and speak to staff if assistance was needed. SWR apologised for the inconvenience.
