High temperatures and reports of smoke on the tracks caused severe disruptions for commuters at London Waterloo station on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
South Western Railway confirmed that trains were forced to run at slower speeds while safety teams inspected the tracks between London Waterloo and Vauxhall stations.
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The delays impacted passengers traveling to multiple destinations, including Guildford, Woking, Chessington South, Dorking, Hampton Court, Shepperton, and Strawberry Hill, according to reports from the Independent.
Network-wide service revisions were implemented by the rail operator as temperatures soared across the region on Tuesday afternoon.
"Services may be revised," stated South Western Railway, regarding the status of its services throughout the day due to the hot weather.
The operator did not confirm whether the smoke on the tracks was directly caused by the ongoing heatwave.
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A significant number of afternoon and evening trains were fully cancelled, specifically affecting routes between London Waterloo and Weymouth via Winchester, Southampton, and Bournemouth, as well as services to Aldershot via Woking and Guildford.
Travelers heading toward Exeter St Davids and Salisbury also faced changes, with South Western Railway terminating those London Waterloo services early at Basingstoke, according to reporting from the Daily Echo.
Additional Disruptions at London Liverpool Street
Additional travel chaos hit London Liverpool Street on Tuesday afternoon, where National Rail Enquiries reported distinct disruptions on the Elizabeth line.
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Eastbound Elizabeth line services that normally depart from platform 17 at London Liverpool Street toward Gidea Park were cancelled due to the transit issues.
