Rail passengers travelling between Salisbury and Tisbury are facing major disruption for the rest of the day after a signalling fault forced trains to run at reduced speed. South Western Railway has warned that journeys may be delayed by as much as an hour, and some services will be diverted.

Engineers are currently on site and have identified the cause of the issue, but no estimate has yet been given for when the system will return to normal.

As a result of the fault, services from London Waterloo heading towards Yeovil Junction and Exeter St Davids will be diverted after Salisbury, meaning they will not stop at Tisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe or Sherborne. Trains travelling in the opposite direction from Exeter and Yeovil Junction towards London are expected to operate, but passengers have been told to expect delays.

A range of alternative travel options have been arranged. Tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on First Bus route 58 between Yeovil Pen Mill or Sherborne and Templecombe, as well as on Great Western Railway services between Exeter St Davids and London Paddington, Basingstoke and Reading, and Salisbury and Westbury. Passengers can also use the Bakerloo line between London Waterloo and London Paddington on the London Underground.

Replacement buses are being organised to cover the Salisbury–Yeovil Junction route. South Western Railway has also confirmed that passengers who experience significant disruption may book their own taxi between any affected stations and claim the cost back through its website.

Travellers are strongly advised to check live journey information before setting off, using the National Rail Enquiries real-time planner.

Image: South Western Railway