South Western Railway experienced major disruption on 17 September 2026 due to a signalling problem between Fratton and Portsmouth Harbour. The fault caused delays and cancellations for trains running to and from these stations.
Services were progressively returning to normal, but some trains remained delayed by up to 30 minutes or cancelled. Long-distance and mainline trains between London Waterloo and Portsmouth stations via Eastleigh had altered their start and end points, with journeys beginning or concluding at Fareham or Fratton instead of their booked destinations. Services running via Guildford also started and ended at Fratton. Local routes between Southampton Central
and Portsmouth stations were modified, with some trains starting or terminating at Fareham or Fratton due to congestion caused by earlier delays.
Passengers holding South Western Railway tickets could travel without extra cost on Great Western Railway between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour, and on Southern Railway services between Southampton Central and Havant as well as Portsmouth Harbour and Havant. Passengers experiencing delays were encouraged to check the South Western Railway website regarding compensation eligibility.
A South Western Railway spokesperson stated, “Due to an earlier signalling problem between Fratton and Portsmouth Harbour all lines are disrupted.” They added, “Some train
services running between these stations may be still be subject to cancellation, delays of up to 30 minutes or may still have to start and end their journeys away from their booked stations due to congestion caused by earlier delays.” The operator apologized for the disruption and advised passengers to allow extra travel time and verify schedules before travelling.
The spokesperson also clarified that South Western Railway tickets were not valid on local buses unless explicitly indicated. Passengers seeking to continue their journey by bus were directed to consult Traveline for options. Assistance was available from station staff or help
points for those affected.
