South Western Railway has issued a formal apology to passengers after a significant 10-hour disruption between Exeter St Davids and Basingstoke caused by slippery rail conditions. The disruption, reported early Tuesday morning, led to the blockage of all lines between Exeter and Axminster, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations.
According to a company spokesperson, an investigation is underway to examine both the tracks and the trains that passed through the affected area. The problems began at 7:51 a.m. with poor railhead conditions between Exeter St Davids and Honiton, severely impacting train services.
In response, South Western Railway arranged alternative transport options for affected commuters, including additional train and bus routes. National Rail also offered to reimburse taxi fares for disrupted journeys between stations served by South Western Railway from Exeter St Davids to Axminster. Passengers could claim taxi costs through the South Western Railway website.
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Additionally, the validity of tickets dated September 23 was extended to cover travel on September 24 at no extra cost, providing greater flexibility to customers affected by the service interruptions.
Network Rail highlighted that the slippery rails were caused by crushed leaves on the tracks, which form a slick coating akin to “black ice” on roads. This coating reduces the trains’ ability to accelerate and brake and interferes with electrical track components that detect train locations. When these electrical signals fail, trains must stop at red signals, causing further delays.
In a joint statement, Network Rail and South Western Railway expressed their regret: “We’re very sorry for the disruption between Basingstoke and Exeter St Davids today, with services starting and ending at Axminster due to reports of slippery rails. Our engineers are investigating the situation thoroughly, examining both the tracks and trains involved.”
The companies assured customers they are working diligently to restore normal service as quickly and safely as possible and advised passengers to check the South Western Railway website for the latest updates.