A trackside fire in Feltham, west London, on the morning of August 15, 2026, caused significant disruption to South Western Railway services operating in and out of London Waterloo station.
Train services on multiple routes were affected, including London Waterloo to Reading and Addlestone, which were diverted in both directions, bypassing Feltham. The London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside route faced heavy delays each way. Services to Strawberry Hill and Teddington experienced delays up to 40 minutes. Dozens of trains showed cancellations and delays on Waterloo’s live arrivals and departures page.
South Western Railway reported that the affected lines
reopened by 11am, but service disruption was expected to continue until 3pm. National Rail issued warnings about cancellations and delays reaching up to 50 minutes as passengers faced major inconvenience. Firefighters were engaged in tackling the blaze while rail operators worked to restore normal operations.
Multiple Trackside Fires Affect London Rail Network in Summer 2026
The Feltham fire was the latest in a series of trackside blazes disrupting London rail services during the record hot summer of 2026. Previous incidents included a major fire in Stratford on July 10, which caused several days of disruption, and a large garden fire near rail tracks in Walthamstow later in July that resulted
in an Overground line closure for more than a week. A significant blaze in Slough on August 12 also led to cancellations on routes to and from Slough and Windsor & Eton Central.
Recent Train Derailments Compound Challenges
Rail disruptions have also been heightened by two recent train derailments in the London area. A Greater Anglia service derailed near Wickford railway station in Essex on August 14, with no injuries reported. On August 13, a train derailed in East Sussex leaving three carriages on their sides and resulting in two serious injuries, confirmed as not life-threatening by British Transport Police. These incidents have compounded the
operational challenges for London rail authorities.
Passengers on South Western Railway routes continued to contend with cancellations and delays on August 15, following the Feltham fire. The combined impact of fires and derailments has strained travel through key London rail hubs, notably affecting London Waterloo and surrounding routes.
