Rush hour signalling problem hits rail commuters coming into London

A major signalling problem caused long delays for mainline rail commuter services into Victoria and London Bridge today.

Packed First Capital Connect (FCC) and Southern services from the coast suffered disruption throughout the morning peak with delays of up to 30 minutes.

Trains stacked up behind one another on the Brighton line due to signalling problems between Wivelsfield and Gatwick Airport.

Southeastern services between Ashford International and Victoria via Swanley also suffered delays throughout the peak due to unconnected power supply problems between Ashford and Maidstone East.

A Network Rail (NR) engineer discovered a problem affecting three signals on the main "up" line to London shortly before 5 am.

Repairs were carried out and completed by 8.15 am - but knock-on delays continued.

The problem resulted in 40 trains affected with 10 cancelled.

An NR spokesman said: "We repaired the fault as soon as possible and we apologise to passengers for delays they suffered this morning."