Rail Union Demands Answers After Rare ‘Do Not Travel’ Warning in London

Rail union TSSA has called for a clear and detailed explanation after major disruption hit rail services into and across London during Wednesday’s rush hour, affecting Gatwick Express, Southern and other Govia Thameslink routes.

Passengers were advised not to travel after an unusually severe warning was issued during the peak period, a measure more commonly associated with extreme weather. The instruction remained in place for almost two hours, with National Rail later warning that disruption was expected to continue through to the end of the day.

The widespread problems were attributed to a combination of incidents on the network. A signalling fault between Norwood Junction and London Bridge was reported, alongside a train derailment at Selhurst depot, both of which severely limited the movement of trains through some of the capital’s busiest corridors.

The scale of the disruption left thousands of commuters facing delays, cancellations and overcrowding as they attempted to travel into and out of London at one of the busiest times of the day.

TSSA said the issuing of a “do not travel” warning underlined the seriousness of the situation and raised important questions about how such failures are managed and communicated to passengers.

TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said:

“As ever our brilliant Network Rail members were at the heart of the operation to get services running again and they should be praised for their hard work in doing so. However, the disruption has been extensive with a significant impact on very many people trying to get in and out of London during the rush hour period. Our union looks at this through the lens of safety on the railways, that is and will always be the number one priority. So, it’s vital we not only learn lessons about what happened but have a proper explanation given the necessity to issue the do not travel warning.”

Image: TSSA