Fire damages signalling equipment, disrupting London Victoria trains

A trackside fire damaged railway signalling equipment near Clapham Junction on Sunday, September 27, disrupting services to and from London Victoria and affecting routes serving Sussex and Gatwick Airport. Rail operators said repairs were continuing on Monday, leaving services reduced and some trains delayed, cancelled or diverted. London Fire Brigade said the fire broke out shortly after 2pm near Queenstown Road station and damaged signalling equipment, shrubbery and grassland. It was under control by 3.10pm. The reports describe the fire as being in the Clapham Junction area or near Queenstown Road; they do not establish the precise site of the damage. Southern and Gatwick Express said the damage had affected the route between Clapham Junction and London Victoria and that emergency repairs were ongoing on Monday. National Rail advised passengers travelling to or from Victoria to use another London terminal where possible. Operators warned that trains that were running would be very busy and that journeys could take longer. Service notices gave varying time horizons for the restrictions.