a fatality at clapham junction and a separate train fire at wandsworth town disrupted services to and from london waterloo, leading to cancellations, alternative travel advice and refund options
Disruption at London Waterloo after two afternoon incidents — 12 February 2026
A pair of incidents on the afternoon of 12 February left commuters facing long delays and chaos across the south‑west London rail network. Emergency services responded to separate scenes at Clapham Junction and Wandsworth Town, forcing temporary station closures, extensive safety checks and a wave of cancellations and diversions that continued into the early hours of Friday.
What happened
– Around 15:00, police and ambulance crews were called to Clapham Junction following reports that someone had been struck on the tracks. – Not long afterwards a fire broke out on a train at Wandsworth Town, disrupting services towards Barnes and Wimbledon.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control and the site was formally cleared at 02:14 on 13 February.
Why services were affected
Both incidents required a large-scale emergency response and thorough safety inspections. Platforms and lines were closed while crews worked, and those closures quickly produced knock‑on effects across the busy Waterloo corridor.
Even after the scenes were cleared, signalling checks and rolling‑stock inspections slowed the recovery, so revised timetables and other operational changes remained in place for the following days.
Service impact
Services into London Waterloo and many suburban routes were heavily affected. Passengers experienced a mix of cancellations, short formations and altered stopping patterns. Some longer‑distance trains were retimed or routed away from the busiest approaches, and where rail replacement buses were used journeys became longer and connections were missed. The disruption at Clapham Junction — a major interchange — generated particularly widespread ripple effects across the network.
Advice for passengers
If you can, avoid travelling to or through London Waterloo while recovery work continued. Operators and National Rail urged passengers to:
– Check live updates before you travel and allow extra time. – Use contactless or mobile tickets to cut down on queues. – Expect reduced facilities and fewer staff during the peak recovery period.
Station staff at key interchanges were on hand to help with rerouting and temporary ticketing where possible. Always follow official station announcements and operator websites for the latest guidance.
Tickets, refunds and reimbursements
South Western Railway and other operators introduced temporary ticket acceptance measures so passengers could complete journeys on alternative routes. SWR noted that, in some situations, customers could book taxis and claim reimbursement for journeys between stations it serves (including London Waterloo, Portsmouth and Southampton Central). To make a claim you’ll typically need contact and journey details, original tickets, and receipts — submit these via the operator’s website.
Keep any receipts, screenshots of delay notices and copies of digital tickets, and check each operator’s rules on eligibility and deadlines before applying.
Safety checks and investigations
British Transport Police led the response at Clapham Junction while fire crews attended Wandsworth Town. Emergency teams carried out on‑site safety inspections before any lines reopened. Operators said full service restoration depended on the outcomes of those checks and any repairs required. Police and transport authorities have indicated there will be inquiries to establish the causes and recommend any further safety measures.
