Over 900 people have been evacuated from a train and thousands delayed following a power cut in south London.
A supply failure between Wandsworth Common and Clapham Junction, the UK’s busiest rail station, at 9am on Thursday morning resulted in train suspensions in and out of Victoria and disruptions throughout the day.
Passengers commuting to London from southern locations including Brighton were forced to wait on non-moving trains for up to five hours.
Emergency services provided water to those on board trains, with carriages described as being ‘like an oven’ by one person.
A total of 904 passengers are thought to have been taken off one train stranded between stations.
All Gatwick Express services were cancelled and Southern Trains severely disrupted. A Network Rail spokesman said: ‘A major power supply problem between Clapham and Wandsworth Common has disrupted Southern train services into London Victoria this morning.
‘Engineers are on site and we aim to resume services as quickly as possible. Tickets are valid on all other routes into London and Southern passengers are advised to avoid travelling through Clapham Junction, which is very busy. South West Trains services to and from Waterloo via Clapham Junction are unaffected.’
Southern Trains had two of four lines running after lunchtime yet passengers were being advised to use alternative public transport and avoid Victoria Station.
