Published on February 4, 2026
Commuters across South-East England are facing a severe disruption to their daily travel as major rail services, including Southern, Thameslink, and Gatwick Express, have been heavily affected by a suspected derailment at Selhurst Depot and a critical signalling failure between London Blackfriars and Norwood Junction. These issues have led to widespread cancellations, delays of up to 60 minutes, and rerouted trains, leaving many passengers stranded or significantly delayed during their morning commutes. The situation has prompted urgent travel alerts from rail operators, urging passengers to avoid train travel if possible and consider alternative transport options, as the disruptions are expected to continue for much of the day.
Rail Disruptions Across South-East England Prompt Urgent Travel Advisory

Rail commuters in south-east England have been issued an urgent travel advisory after significant disruptions to services on Wednesday morning. Southern, Thameslink, and Gatwick Express, all part of the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) franchise, have urged passengers to avoid rail travel “if at all possible” due to major service disruptions caused by two critical issues.
The disruptions stem from a suspected derailment at Selhurst Depot in south-east London and a major signalling failure between London Blackfriars and Norwood Junction. These issues have resulted in widespread cancellations, delays, and rerouted services throughout the region, causing significant travel chaos during the busy morning commute.

Derailment at Selhurst Depot

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The first of the two major incidents occurred near Selhurst Depot, where a train derailed, blocking key routes to both Norwood Junction and London Bridge. Emergency teams from Network Rail Kent and Sussex were quickly dispatched to the scene to investigate and resolve the situation. Specialist personnel have been working to clear the tracks and assess the extent of the damage, though no injuries have been reported from the incident.
The derailment has led to a complete disruption of services on affected routes, with trains unable to move along the usual paths to central London and beyond. As a result, major delays have been reported on trains connecting to destinations such as East Grinstead, Orpington, and Bedford, which would typically be accessible from London Bridge.

Signalling Failure Compound the Issue

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In addition to the derailment, a critical signalling failure between London Blackfriars and Norwood Junction has compounded the disruption. The malfunction has drastically reduced track capacity, causing significant delays and slow-moving trains on one of the busiest rail corridors in the region. The lack of operational signals has also led to reduced train speeds, further complicating efforts to maintain an efficient service.
This issue has resulted in several key routes being suspended, including:

• London Bridge to East Grinstead
• Orpington to Luton
• Brighton to Cambridge
• Bedford to Three Bridges

Passengers on these routes are being warned of delays of up to 60 minutes, with many services either cancelled or rerouted through alternative tracks. Some of the rerouted trains, such as those between Horsham and Peterborough or Brighton and Bedford, will now run via Selhurst rather than Norwood Junction. Additionally, the Welwyn Garden City to Sevenoaks service has been truncated, now only operating between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks. Trains from Rainham to Luton will also be terminating at Dartford instead of continuing to their original destinations.

Impact on Commuters and Travel Advisory

The disruptions have caused widespread inconvenience for commuters and travelers across the region. Southern Railway has strongly urged passengers to reconsider their travel plans, especially those who can delay their journey. The company has emphasized that train services will likely remain disrupted for much of the morning, with recovery times expected to extend well into the day. Passengers are advised to check for live service updates before setting off, as the situation continues to evolve.
In addition to delays, those attempting to travel have faced overcrowding on alternative routes as a result of the rerouting of services. Passengers are also advised to anticipate longer travel times and more crowded conditions on remaining operational routes.

Advice for Affected Passengers

Southern has made it clear that only essential travel should be attempted during the disruption. The company has recommended that passengers wait until later in the day, when the disruption is expected to ease. Those who must travel in the affected areas are advised to:

1. Check for real-time service updates: Regularly monitor the Southern and Thameslink websites, or use their mobile apps, for the latest information on train schedules and potential delays.
2. Consider alternative routes or forms of transport: If your train is cancelled or rerouted, explore options such as buses, taxis, or other rail operators.
3. Allow for extra travel time: Due to the expected delays, passengers should plan for longer than usual journey times, and consider allowing for additional time to reach their destinations.
4. Avoid non-essential travel: If possible, delay your journey until later in the day or until full service resumes. Passengers are also advised to avoid peak travel times to ease congestion.

Recovery and Investigation Efforts

As investigations continue at Selhurst Depot and work to restore signalling between London Blackfriars and Norwood Junction progresses, Network Rail is working to ensure that services are gradually restored. While there is no official timeline for the complete recovery of services, passengers can expect ongoing disruptions until the issues are fully resolved. Network Rail has also stated that additional resources are being deployed to ensure the swift restoration of normal services.
The South-East rail network, a critical part of the UK’s national transportation infrastructure, serves as a key connector for thousands of commuters traveling into London from surrounding counties. As a result, any disruption to this service can have significant knock-on effects on local economies and daily life in the region.
Severe disruptions across South-East England have left commuters facing significant delays after a derailment at Selhurst Depot and a signalling failure between London Blackfriars and Norwood Junction. Rail operators are urging passengers to avoid travel where possible as delays of up to 60 minutes continue.
Wednesday’s travel disruptions in south-east England serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the rail network, particularly during peak commuting times. Both the derailment at Selhurst Depot and the signalling failure have had a significant impact on passengers, with services expected to remain disrupted for much of the morning. Commuters are strongly advised to check for live updates, consider alternative travel options, and, if possible, delay their journeys until later in the day when the situation is expected to improve.

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Tags: Rail Disruptions, Railway News, South-East England, UK Travel News

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