Commuters hit by rush hour train delays on first working day of 2016

Delays: Services into Waterloo were badly affected (file image)

Nigel Howard

4 January 2016

Commuters returning to work for the first time after the Christmas break today faced misery on railways serving London.

South West Trains, Southern Rail, Southeastern and Arriva services were hit by delays and cancellations as the rush hour got under way.

Network Rail said services to and from Waterloo were likely to be hit by delays and cancellations.

"A problem at the depot near Guildford means that some trains to and from London Waterloo via Wimbledon are being cancelled, as the trains are unable to leave the depot to begin services," it said.

"There is no firm estimate yet of how long disruption will last but it is likely to continue until at least 10am."

Arriva Trains Wales services from Waterloo are also suspended thanks to striking workers.

Tickets are being accepted by other operators including Great Western, while tickets dated Monday will be accepted on Tuesday.

A signalling problem at Purley was also causing delays on Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> One of my local stations, Purley, is trending. The sad thing is, we cynically resign ourselves to this rubbish service from tomorrow onwards — Harry T Dyer (@HarryTDyer) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/HarryTDyer/status/683917628285554688" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/HarryTDyer/status/683917628285554688" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 4, 2016</a>

Network Rail said the Gatwick Express was only running every 30 minutes, and Thameslink services between Brighton and London Bridge were only running hourly.

The disruption caused by the Purley signalling problem was expected to last until 4pm.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> But seriously, if we all could quit working 3 hours into the new year, we would. I wish I had signalling equipment <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/purley?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/hashtag/purley?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#purley</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/southernrailuk?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/hashtag/southernrailuk?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#southernrailuk</a> — Harry T Dyer (@HarryTDyer) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/HarryTDyer/status/683918154146385920" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/HarryTDyer/status/683918154146385920" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 4, 2016</a>

The delays were met with fury by commuters who complained they coincided with a fresh 1.1 per cent hike in rail fares which came into effect in the New Year.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SouthernRailUK" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/SouthernRailUK" data-vars-event-id="c23">@SouthernRailUK</a> Welcome back - huge fare increase, delays & short formation 6.50am Haywards Heath 2 Victoria <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryoneStanding?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryoneStanding?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#EveryoneStanding</a>. THX!!! — James Harding (@hardinguk) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hardinguk/status/683905399712514049" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/hardinguk/status/683905399712514049" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 4, 2016</a>

James Harding tweeted: "@SouthernRailUK Welcome back - huge fare increase, delays & short formation 6.50am Haywards Heath 2 Victoria #EveryoneStanding. THX!!!"

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SouthernRailUK" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/SouthernRailUK" data-vars-event-id="c23">@SouthernRailUK</a> Happy New Year from Southern..a Fare increase and usual terrible service trains being cancelled <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/redhillmoo?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/hashtag/redhillmoo?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#redhillmoo</a> — Becky Dear (@BEXC80) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BEXC80/status/683903829092478980" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/BEXC80/status/683903829092478980" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 4, 2016</a>

Becky Dear added: "@SouthernRailUK Happy New Year from Southern..a Fare increase and usual terrible service trains being cancelled".

Another commuter added: "@SW_Trains broken down trains, signallers "ill" on first Monday after Christmas, packed in like sardines, everyone sweating - great to be back!"

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> Today Stratford has become Zone 2. Wouldn't it be better if the further you had the commute the cheaper it was... — Mark Machado (@MarkMachado) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MarkMachado/status/683927184713596928" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3147416-https://twitter.com/MarkMachado/status/683927184713596928" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 4, 2016</a>

But it wasn't bad news all round as east London's new fare boundary came into effect, transferring Stratford, West Ham and Canning Town into zone 2/3 - a substantial cut in fares for those travelling from Newham into central London.

Katy (@itskatywithay) tweeted: “New zone change at Stratford means my travelcard is about £20 cheaper per month.”

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