15.08.17
SWT warns passengers to avoid Waterloo after derailment
A train has derailed at Waterloo station today, causing chaos for passengers travelling into the capital.
The British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed that officers were sent to the station at 6.04am after a train derailed at small speed pulling out of the station before hitting a stationary freight train.
No one was injured in the accident, and police say they are working with industry partners to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Images on twitter show the derailed train leaning against a Network Rail freight train at London Waterloo.
A joint statement from Network Rail and South West Trains (SWT) who run London Waterloo has warned passengers to avoid the station entirely as it was dealing with an “operational incident”.
A SWT spokesman stated: “Trains are currently unable to use platforms 1 to 13 at London Waterloo. Most trains are experiencing severe delays and, as such, be subject to short notice alterations.
“Because of the reduction in available platforms many services will need to terminate before London Waterloo and many services will start away from London Waterloo. SWTs have significantly reduced the number of trains running to and from London Waterloo to ensure that delayed trains do not approach London Waterloo at the same time.
“When this happens, trains have to wait for platforms to become free, occupying the track outside Waterloo and making it more difficult to get trains moving. The effect of this situation occurring quickly leads to vastly increased disruption.”
The London Ambulance Service also tweeted to say that paramedics had been called but thankfully no one on board needed to go to hospital.
A separate points failure has added to the disruption, and SWT says that services are likely to be disrupted until the end of service on Wednesday 16 August.
Today’s disruption also comes as SWT embarks on a large-scale series of works to improve the station between 5-28 August.
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