Train services through Wimbledon were halted on Friday evening after a person was struck by a train in the area, with lines closed while emergency services responded.
The closure brought South Western Railway services through one of south-west London’s busiest interchanges to a standstill during the evening, and passengers were warned to expect cancellations, delays and revised timetables for the rest of the day.
Power to the track needed to be switched off so emergency services could safely reach the railway. No further information about the person involved has been given in the information released so far, and no outcome has been stated.
Which services are affected
The disruption centres on services that run through Wimbledon between London Waterloo and Surrey. Routes towards Dorking, Guildford, Woking, Hampton Court, Chessington South and Shepperton are among those affected.
Some of the most heavily used commuter routes out of Waterloo are caught up in the closure. Services between Waterloo and Dorking, Woking and Guildford via Epsom were cancelled until further notice, while Waterloo to Guildford trains via Cobham were also cancelled in both directions.
Hampton Court trains were running only between Surbiton and Hampton Court, cutting out the usual direct link from Waterloo. Some Shepperton services were diverted and were not calling at Wimbledon, Raynes Park or New Malden, among other stations on the usual route.
More widely, trains passing through Wimbledon could be cancelled, delayed or changed at short notice, with major disruption expected until the end of the day. Anyone travelling on Friday evening was advised to check their whole journey before setting off and to allow extra time.
Ticket acceptance and replacement travel
To help passengers complete their journeys, South Western Railway tickets were being accepted at no extra cost on a number of specified alternative services, including some London Underground, Thameslink, Southern, Great Western Railway and CrossCountry routes.
Tickets were also being accepted on specified London bus routes, including services linking Waterloo, Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Surbiton, Kingston and Epsom. Rail replacement buses were requested between Surbiton and Woking.
In limited circumstances set out by the operator, passengers whose journeys were significantly disrupted could arrange their own taxi and claim the cost back for travel from Surbiton towards Weymouth, Exeter St Davids, Portsmouth Harbour or Alton. Passengers are advised to check the operator’s conditions before booking.
Unused South Western Railway tickets dated Friday 9 October could also be used on Saturday 10 October because of the disruption.
What this means if you are travelling tonight
For Wimbledon passengers heading towards central London, the immediate problem is the loss of the fast and frequent Waterloo service that usually makes the station such a straightforward route into town. If trains are still not running through the station, check the TfL status pages before relying on the District line or other local connections, and check National Rail Enquiries for the latest train-by-train information.
For Surrey commuters heading home from Waterloo, the cancellations via Epsom and via Cobham mean there may be no direct train for long stretches of the evening. In those circumstances, travelling to Surbiton or another interchange where ticket acceptance or replacement buses are in place may be more reliable than waiting for a direct service that is listed as cancelled. The South Western Railway website carries the operator’s latest travel updates.
Hampton Court passengers face a shorter shuttle from Surbiton rather than a through train, so allow time to change. Shepperton passengers need to check calling patterns carefully, because diverted trains will miss Wimbledon and several other usual stops.
It is also worth keeping tickets and a note of the services you actually used. Even when ticket acceptance is in place on other operators and buses, keeping evidence of your journey can help if you later need to discuss a refund or delay claim.
A busy interchange feeling the impact
Wimbledon is one of the key rail gateways for south-west London and Surrey, linking Waterloo services with the District line, trams and local buses. When lines through the station close at short notice, the impact spreads quickly to Raynes Park, New Malden, Surbiton and beyond, and to evening journeys in both directions.
The disruption follows other recent pressure on Waterloo routes. Our guide to South Western Railway weekend disruption at Waterloo explains how services can be cut short and diverted when lines close, while London buses facing weekend diversions shows how quickly road services can also change. Passengers using other parts of the network this weekend may also want to check the Arsenal station closure travel warning.
For now, the practical advice is unchanged: do not set off on the assumption that a booked or timetabled train will run, check live departures immediately before travelling, and expect the effects to last until the end of service on Friday.
If you are struggling with issues raised by this incident, Samaritans can be contacted for confidential support on 116 123.
