Passengers travelling on the South Western Railway (SWR) between Surrey and London face severe disruption following a train derailment at Walton-on-Thames. Train 2L10, operating between Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge, reported displacing the conductor rail, leading to the derailment caused by an object on the rail.
The incident has resulted in extensive damage, with approximately 30 meters of sleepers affected, a broken conductor rail, and significant damage to the signalling system. Despite the severity of the situation, all passengers, including the driver and guard, have been safely evacuated, albeit shaken by the ordeal.
SWR has issued a ‘do not travel‘ warning to passengers in Surrey as the disruption is expected to last until the end of the day. Services between Woking and London Waterloo have been suspended, leading to major disruption across the network as trains and train crews are displaced.
The disruption was initially reported shortly after 6 am on Monday, March 4, with SWR warning of potential cancellations, delays, or revisions to services. While the disruption was initially anticipated to last until 10 am, an update from the operator now indicates that services are expected to remain affected throughout the day.
In response to the disruption, National Rail has confirmed that passengers’ tickets for journeys on March 4 will be valid for use on services on March 5. Additionally, passengers are advised to utilize alternate travel options, with tickets being accepted on the London Underground, Great Western Railway, Elizabeth Line, Southern, London Buses, and CrossCountry services.
The incident has also impacted routes between Guildford and Wimbledon, with services suspended on the South Western Railway due to safety checks at Weybridge.
South Western Railway has urged passengers to check before travelling and to refrain from attempting to travel on services between Woking and London Waterloo until further notice. The operator has described the issue as “serious” and is working to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible.
