Commuters face chaos as Waterloo station issues 'do not travel' warning
- A major signalling failure at London Waterloo station has caused 14 platforms to become out of service.
- South Western Railways has advised customers not to travel due to the expected disruption throughout the day.
- Frustrated passengers have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction with the situation.
On Monday, July 21, 2025, a major signalling failure at London Waterloo station led to significant disruption for commuters in the United Kingdom. This malfunction resulted in 14 platforms at the station being rendered out of service, preventing trains from effectively arriving or departing. South Western Railways (SWR), the train operating company managing this route, advised customers against traveling, stating that the chaos would likely continue throughout the day. The signalling equipment failure was reported shortly after 5:30 AM, creating a ripple of cancellations and delays across the network. In the wake of the failure, SWR noted that engineers were on-site, actively working to restore functionality to the affected platforms. However, they anticipated that, even with some services potentially resuming later in the day, many would still face delays and alterations. The operator expressed regret for the disruption but emphasized the technical challenges posed by the signalling equipment's failure, which controlled the routing of trains into and out of the station. Passengers expressed their frustration, taking to social media to decry the situation, with many labeling it a "total shambles." Complaints ranged from disappointment over the lack of information to feelings of being stranded, especially for those who began their journeys before learning of the cancellations. Reports indicated that some passengers found themselves at locations like Salisbury without any assistance from rail staff. To alleviate some of the inconvenience, SWR announced that any unused tickets from this disruption would be valid for travel the following day, Tuesday. Additionally, they made arrangements for tickets to be accepted on services from other operators, including Great Western Railway, CrossCountry, and Southern, providing more options for stranded passengers. This significant disruption follows a weekend filled with travel troubles at Waterloo, attributed to separate signalling failures earlier, showcasing an ongoing challenge that many commuters face at this key transportation hub.