Smoke was spotted billowing from a train at Clapham Junction, causing travel disruption for holidaymakers heading to Gatwick Airport on August 20, 2026. Southern Rail reported that railway lines between Balham and London Victoria were blocked due to a fire on an empty train.
Cause of the incident
A spokesman for Southern Rail said: 'Following reports of smoke from an empty Southeastern train travelling to a depot, engineers attended and identified the cause as a brake fault.' The spokesman added: 'The issue has been resolved, the train has moved safely and all lines have reopened.'
Impact on services
The incident disrupted Southern and Gatwick Express services between Balham and London Victoria. There have been no reports of any injuries. At the same time, the Windrush Line is facing severe delays between Highbury and Islington and Crystal Palace 'due to an unsafe structure near the railway,' according to the same report.
Context and updates
This disruption occurred amid ongoing travel concerns, including a previous fuel shortage at Gatwick Airport and water issues that left passengers without flushing toilets or drinking fountains. The situation at Clapham Junction has been resolved, and all lines have reopened, allowing normal service to resume.
