Signal failure compounds misery for strike-hit South Western rail passengers

Rail passengers on routes hit by a guards strike were advised not to travel on Wednesday because of a signal failure.

South Western Railway services were already being disrupted by the second day of a five-day walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union.

The company said in a message to passengers: “Due to a major fault with Network Rail signalling systems between Woking and Surbiton, trains are unable to run on this line through to London Waterloo.

“We are advising all passengers who travel on the mainline (services from Weymouth, West of England, Portsmouth) and suburban (from Guildford to Waterloo) services that run through these stations, not to travel and to check for updates.”

The union said the strike continued to be solidly supported.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “On the second of the five days of strikes in this current phase of action on South Western Railway, RMT members remain rock-solid and determined this morning in the fight to put public safety before private profit.

“There is only one way to break the deadlock in this dispute and that is through South Western Railway agreeing to RMT’s call for talks and sitting down with us to negotiate around the guard guarantee which matches the widespread best practice in the industry.”

SWR sent another message to passengers saying all lines in the Woking area and part of Basingstoke station will be closed all day on Sunday for track maintenance.

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