Passengers are currently experiencing significant disruptions at a major railway hub in the UK due to reports of smoke on the railway tracks coinciding with unusually high temperatures. South Western Railway (SWR) has informed commuters that certain services at London Waterloo are operating at reduced speeds while safety checks are conducted. The presence of smoke between the stations of London Waterloo and Vauxhall has led to delays on routes to and from London Waterloo, affecting destinations such as Guildford, Woking, Chessington South, Dorking, Hampton Court, Shepperton, and Strawberry Hill.
Although SWR did not confirm a direct link to the hot weather conditions, temperatures remained above 21.3C at Kenley Airfield in south London on Monday, marking the hottest May day on record according to the Met Office. Moreover, Kew Gardens in south-west London recorded the highest meteorological spring temperature at 34.8C on the same day.
The Met Office reported that numerous locations across the country, including areas from Suffolk to Berkshire to Warwickshire, surpassed previous temperature records on Monday. Approximately 97 monitoring sites registered temperatures exceeding 30C. While train services between Waterloo and Vauxhall have resumed, delays are anticipated until 11 am.
SWR announced that all rail lines have reopened following safety inspections and service adjustments, although disruptions are expected to persist until 11:00 on May 26th. Commuters using suburban services to and from London Waterloo and various surrounding areas are advised to anticipate delays as services gradually return to normal schedules. Passengers are encouraged to allocate extra time for their journeys and to monitor live travel updates for the latest information. SWR apologizes for any inconvenience caused and recommends seeking assistance from station staff or using help points if needed during the transition period.