Large queues of travellers at London Waterloo Station
Commuters in Waterloo wait for information after a fault on a communication system (Picture: Alex Lentati/LNP)

A radio system is wreaking havoc on train services across southern England this morning, with passengers warned of severe disruption.

Seven train companies have been affected: CrossCountry, Gatwick Express, Great Western Railway, London Overground, Southern, South Western Railway and Thameslink.

The fault has been placed in a radio system, used so that the driver and signaller can communicate.

The issue has now been resolved, National Rail said, but disruptions will last until the end of the day, with some services delayed by up to 90 minutes.

A National Rail spokesperson said: ‘Some services may be delayed by up to 90 minutes or cancelled as a result. Major disruption is expected until the end of the day.’

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CrossCountry Customers can use their tickets on other services, including two CrossCountry services operating before and after a cancelled service, Great Western Railway services between Reading and Basingstoke, and South Western Railway services between Basingstoke and Bournemouth.

A Gatwick Express train at Falmer station in East Sussex. Behind the bridge is the American Express Stadium,commonly known as the 'Amex', which is the home of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club. Gatwick Express, like Southern Rail, is owned by Govia Thameslink. The Labour Government has said that it will nationalise these services in April, 2025.
Gatwick Express customers have been urged to leave extra early (Picture: Getty)

Great Western Railway customers can use their tickets on CrossCountry or South Western Railway through any reasonable route.

As for Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink customers, delays and cancellations are expected to persist.

Those travelling to Gatwick Airport have been urged to leave early and provide extra time to ensure they arrive before their flights.

Customers on these services can travel on the following services at no additional cost:

Alternative Southern services between London Victoria, Worthing and Gatwick Airport

Alternative Thameslink services between Brighton and London via Gatwick Airport

South Western Railway services between London Waterloo and Southampton / Portsmouth

London Underground via any reasonable route.

Stagecoach route 9 between Arundel, Littlehampton, Worthing and Shoreham-by-Sea

Stagecoach 700 between Chichester and Portsmouth (City Centre) and between Littlehampton and Bognor Regis

Stagecoach route 500 between Chichester, Barnham and Littlehampton

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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