Commuters faced continued disruption during London's heatwave after smoke was spotted on a South Western Railway (SWR) train track between London Waterloo and Vauxhall stations. SWR confirmed the cancellation of several services following the smoke report, with trains on other lines forced to run slower than usual while a safety inspection takes place.
Delays Across Multiple Routes
Delays are expected to and from London Waterloo and Guildford, Woking, Chessington South, Dorking, Hampton Court, Shepperton, and Strawberry Hill. In addition, SWR preemptively cancelled a number of services scheduled for today to minimize potential disruption from the hot weather. This may affect journeys between London Waterloo and Weymouth via Winchester, Southampton, and Bournemouth, as well as between London Waterloo and Aldershot via Woking and Guildford.
Record-Breaking Heat
The disruption comes as the UK experiences unprecedented heat for May. Temperatures did not fall below 21.3°C overnight at Kenley Airfield, south London, breaking the record for the highest daily minimum temperature in May and marking a 'tropical night.' The mercury is expected to climb to as high as 34°C in London today, following yesterday's hottest day of May at 34.8°C. The previous record was set in 1944, when Britain reached 32.8°C. Forecasters described the heat as 'unprecedented for the time of year,' noting that temperature records are typically broken by only fractions of a degree.
Ongoing Disruption
SWR warned that hot weather means trains across their network may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes, or revised, with disruption expected until the end of the day. Passengers are advised to check for updates before traveling.
