District line delays: Tube line disruption and South Western strike prompts travel misery for Londoners

Severe delays on the District Line and a strike by South Western Railway caused travel chaos for Londoners today.

The District Line was operating with severe delays this afternoon between Wimbledon and Edgware Road because of a signal failure at East Putney.

Southern Rail customers have also been warned there may be delays during the Wednesday rush-hour because of more poor weather.

The disruption came as South Western travellers faced day two of strike action, with many having to use alternative routes.

TfL said there was now a good service running on the line.

Earlier in the day, the busy Tube line had delays between Richmond and Ealing Broadway, as well as delays at Barking.

Tim Rye posted an image of queues “right down the road” at East Putney because of the strike and District line delays.

Simone Wiltshire said there was “chaos” in Putney, as huge crowds of people tried to make their way into the station.

Local MP Justine Greening also complained about the queues, tweeting: “This morning there are no tubes from East Putney station and no South Western trains – it’s a nightmare for my community to get to work. It’s totally unacceptable for a London transport system.”

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on SWR launched a five-day walkout on Tuesday, causing misery for tens of thousands of travellers, including commuters into London Waterloo station.

Buses again replaced trains on some routes on Wednesday, with up to half of SWR's services affected by the industrial action.

SWR said there will be reduced services to London Waterloo but that some additional services across the network will operate during the morning and evening peak travelling times.

“If you are travelling to Hampton Court Palace Music Festival or Royal Ascot, additional services will be running between London Waterloo and Reading and London Waterloo and Hampton Court. Queueing systems will be in place at some stations during these events, so it may take extra time to board your train,” the SWR website said.

Southern Rail said rain, hail and lightning could also affect services on Wednesday evening.

The transport provider said: "The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for today, Wednesday, continuing through until 9pm this evening.

"Thunderstorms may develop bringing torrential rain, hail and lightning across the coastal and mainline routes into London."