Rail passengers across Britain faced major disruption during rush-hour this morning due to a nationwide fault with a radio system used by train drivers and signallers.
National Rail said trains across the UK network had to start their journeys later than normal and could be cancelled because of a failure of the onboard GSM-R system.
Disruption was expected to last until at least 12pm, with Elizabeth line trains between Reading and Heathrow Airport among the services affected.
South Western Railway said customers affected by disruption between Southampton Central and Basingstoke only could source their own taxis and claim the money back.
Southeastern and ScotRail confirmed delays, while Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink activated an amended timetable on some routes.
A notice on the National Rail website said: There is a nationwide fault with the communication system used between train drivers and signallers. As a result, services across the National Rail network may be subject to delays this morning.
‘Trains across the network are having to start their journeys later because of this fault and some may also be subject to short-notice cancellations or alterations. Please check before you travel, allow extra time for your journey and monitor live departure boards.’
It comes after the central section of the Elizabeth line between Abbey Wood and Paddington was suspended for two days last week after a major software crash caused what one source branded ‘the worst signalling failure they’ve ever seen’.
Today’s incident is already being compared to the recent BBC hit drama Nightsleeper starring Joe Cole, which features a sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London which is hacked and hijacked during a nationwide attack on the UK rail network.
The incident has been compared to the BBC’s recent drama Nightsleeper, starring Joe Cole
The failure with the GSM-R system ‘is currently being investigated’, National Rail said.
GSM-R is designed to enable driver and signallers to communicate digitally at all times, including while trains are in areas such as tunnels and deep cuttings where previous analogue systems did not work.
It was rolled out to increase safety and reduce costs by replacing the patchwork of inefficient legacy systems which were expensive to maintain.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: ‘We have discovered a fault with the railway’s radio communication system that is preventing it from automatically ‘logging on’.
‘The back-up manual log-in system is being used instead, causing a few minutes of delay at the start of the day. Once up and running the system is working normally and the impact for passengers is minimal.’
Travel expert Simon Calder told GB News: ‘What we’ve got is a failure of the global system for mobile communications for railways, known as GSM-R. This is the dedicated network – it’s nothing to do with the normal mobile phone network – that allows train drivers to communicate with signallers, and therefore it’s actually very important. But unfortunately it has developed a fault this morning.
‘The impact across the country is very patchy. What I’m seeing for instance in London Waterloo, one of the three busiest stations in Britain, cancellations of trains coming in.
‘Elsewhere we’re seeing delays on the line that runs basically through London, north to south, from Brighton to Gatwick through London up to Cambridge, Bedford and Peterborough.
‘Also there’s warnings of problems on the Elizabeth line going east-west through the capital. ScotRail was having problems but they now seem to have been cleared up.
‘And if the mobile network fault doesn’t get you, the fallen tree between Wakefield and Leeds may possibly do that. So a messy old start to the Friday rush-hour for an awful lot of people, I’m afraid.’
Elizabeth line passengers were told that services were being impacted this morning and they were ‘advised to wait for the next available train if your service is cancelled’.
South Western Railway is also among the operators to cancel some services.
It said in a message to passengers: ‘We have been informed of a national issue with communication systems affecting service this morning. This means that trains may be delayed before they start their journey.
‘This is because it is preventing our train drivers from contacting the respective signalling centre this morning and a reset is having to be performed before the train can start its journey.’
A file photograph of an Avanti West Coast train at Liverpool Lime Street station
Those using South Western Railway were also told: ‘If you would prefer to use local buses to continue your journey please check Traveline – South Western Railway tickets are not valid on local buses unless stated.’
And ScotRail passengers were informed: ‘Customers with valid tickets may travel via any reasonable route. If you have had to drive to another station your ticket will be valid to collect your car on your return journey. Speak to a member of staff to validate your ticket.’
Routes across the Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink network were also affected by the disruption, with a series of amendments in place.
Brighton to Southampton Central will only be running to either Bognor Regis or Chichester; while London Victoria to Ore will terminate and restart at Hastings.
London Victoria to Brighton on the Gatwick Express will terminate and restart at Gatwick Airport; and Kings Lynn to London Kings Cross will only run between Kings Lynn and Cambridge.
Meanwhile Southeastern said ‘trains across the network are likely to experience delays in starting their journeys and may also be subject to cancellations or alterations’.
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