Fire on the tracks at Vauxhall Station is causing travel chaos still causing disruption – and it’s going to last for the rest of the day

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A fire on one of London's busiest commuter routes, which caused major disruption during morning rush hour today, is expected to continue to play havoc with people's commute well into the evening. 

Passengers were being warned that journeys would be cancelled, delayed by up to 90 minutes or revised as a result of the fire at Vauxhall station, which was affecting routes in and out of Waterloo. 

The fast line from Woking and the South West to Waterloo is now open "at a reduced speed", but four of the main lines through Vauxhall still cannot be used. 

London Fire Brigade was called to a fire on the train tracks at the south London station early this morning. The blaze broke out in signalling cables under one of the platforms just after 2:30am. 

British Transport Police were called in to help evacuate Clapham Junction during morning rush hour because of overcrowding caused by the Vauxhall fire. 

London Fire Brigade Station Manager John Ryan said: "Once the power was isolated firefighters quickly got to work to tackle the fire.

“We’ve now handed the incident over to rail staff, however an appliance remains on site as a precaution."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

But while the fire may be out, the knock-on effects are far from over. ​As at 3:45pm, this is what National Rail was advising that:

  • Trains are expected to be delayed by up to 90 minutes, cancelled or revised
  • London Waterloo to Reading / Weybridge services will start and terminate at Clapham Junction
  • London Waterloo to Reading additional peak services will not run
  • London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside services will not run
  • Train shuttle is running between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside
  • London Waterloo circular services via Hounslow / Twickenham will not run
  • London Waterloo circular services via Kingston / Richmond will start and terminate at Clapham Junction
  • London Waterloo to Shepperton (via Richmond) services will not run
  • London Waterloo to Hampton Court services will not run
  • Train shuttle is running between Hampton Court and Surbiton
  • London Waterloo to Twickenham services will not run
  • London Waterloo to Poole / Weymouth services will call at Clapham Junction, Woking and Basingstoke

Alternative travel options passengers may use:

  • Southern between Dorking / Epsom / Clapham Junction and London Victoria.
  • London Buses, London Underground, London Overground, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Thameslink and Tramlink on any reasonable routes
  • Stagecoach bus routes 46, 70, 71 and 72 in the Guildford area and on Gold 1 route between Aldershot and Farnborough
  • Road transport between Farnham and Alton; Shepperton and Teddington and also between Staines and Reading

Tickets dated 5 May can be used tomorrow National Rail added, and off-peak ticket restrictions have been lifted.

"Passengers should use the first available train service," said the group, entirely superfluously.