Train chaos RECAP: Rush hour services delayed and cancelled amid nationwide fault with radios used between drivers and signallers

With delays easing across the rail network we are ending our live coverage here.

Early this morning we reported how passengers faced major disruption during rush-hour due to ‘faulty hardware’ on 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 some were cancelled because of a failure of the crucial onboard GSM-R communications system, which cost £1.9billion to install between 2007 and 2014.

Although this page will no longer be updated, you can read the story on the MailOnline website here:

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A railway expert has claimed Network Raill will be ‘pretty embarrassed’ after engineers discovered a piece of ‘faulty hardware’ which led to this morning’s disruption for commuters.

Phillip Haigh, the former deputy editor of RAIL magazine, told Sky News he had spoken to the body who told him services should return to normal once the kit is replaced.

‘I think Network Rail will be pretty embarrassed this has happened this morning,’ he added.

When asked about the GSM-R system, which cost £1.8 billionn to install across Britain’s railway network between 2007 and 2014, Mr Haigh said it needed to be upgraded.

‘In mobile phone terms, it’s quite old. We’re used to 4G or 5G networks on our phones, railway people liken this system to 2G,’ he added.

Passengers who have struggled to get into work may also encounter difficulties on the journey home with Storm Darragh to arrive in the UK this afternoon.

A yellow wind warning is in place from 3pm today with Met Office forecasters warning strong winds could result in delays and cancellations to trains, flights and ferries.

Rail operator Southeastern, which runs services between London and Kent, has said it is expects services to return to normal by 11:30am.

We can now bring you pictures from inside London Victoria and London Kings Cross stations as passengers face waits on the concourse as a result of delayed and cancelled trains this morning.

South Western Railway has warned passengers it expects disruption to services to continue until midday.

As of 10am, 14 trains have been cancelled this morning.

The operator has published a list of cancellations and updates here.

Passengers travelling between Southampton Central and Basingstoke have also been advised to book their own taxis and claim the money back

Network Rail has confirmed train drivers and signallers were unable to log in to the radio system used to communicate with one another which has resulted in disruption to services this morning.

It insists a back up is in place and the impact on passengers is ‘minimal’.

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.

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.

Here’s what some on social media are saying:

It’s a frustrating sight for passengers and sadly departure boards like these will be commonplace this morning in train stations across the country.

A passenger captured this at Finsbury Park in North London where only one in eight services was on time this morning with the rest delayed or cancelled.

Travel expert Simon Calder has been interviewed on GB News morning in which he warned commuters face a ‘messy old start’ to Friday because of a communication fault and a fallen tree on the line in West Yorkshire.

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.

Confused rail passengers have taken to social media this morning to ask when they will be able to get to work following nationwide disruption this morning.

Here is a snapshot of some of the social media posts we have seen as many are left stranded on the platforms this morning.

Let’s take a look at what the operators have told passengers this morning on social media and through the National Rail website.

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.

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.

• Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink

Services across the Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express network are expected to be disrupted this morning. Services may experience some delays of around 10-15 minutes, and may be subject to short notice alterations and cancellations as a result.

For most journeys, you can travel using your normal route. However, if your planned train is affected then you may need to take an earlier or later train instead, change trains en route, or use an alternative route.

The Global System for Mobile Communications-Railway (GSM-R) is £1.8 billion communication system used between drivers and signallers and is billed as providing ‘secure and relibale’ communication.

Using a customised fixed telecoms network alongside mobile technology, its processes include journey registration, operational messaging and prioritising driver-signaller communications.

The Global System for Mobile Communications-Railway (GSM-R) delivers digital, secure and dependable communications between drivers and signallers. This helps to increase safety, reduce delays and improve performance – providing a better experience for passengers.

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.

There is a fault with the onboard “GSMR” radio system that allows communication between train drivers and signal operators. This issue is currently being investigated and you will be updated as soon as possible.

According to National Rail, nine rail operators have been affected by the communication fault which is causing some services to be delayed or cancelled,

• ScotRail
• South Western Railway
• London Northwestern Railway
• ThamesLink
• Southern Rail
• Elizabeth Line
• Great Northern
• Southeastern
• Gatwick Express

Rail passengers across Britain face 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 or could be cancelled because of the failure of the onboard GSM-R system.

Elizabeth line trains between Reading and Heathrow Airport were affected, while passengers using South Western Railway and ScotRail were warned of disruption.

Southeastern confirmed delays, while an amended timetable was confirmed on routes operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink.