Passengers are being told to AVOID travelling from London Waterloo this evening after a fire closed NINE platforms.

A lineside fire has caused damage to cabling at Waterloo, and as a result there have been multiple track circuit failures causing severe delays and cancellations.

The track circuits in question are affecting trains being able to use platforms 16-24 at London Waterloo.

Network Rail engineers are currently on-site working with the fire brigade in order to extinguish the fire and repair the damage.

The extent of the damage means they will not be repaired until tomorrow morning.

South Western Railway strongly advise, wherever possible, if you are travelling from London Waterloo or Clapham Junction during peak hours, to travel earlier than planned or to delay travelling until later this evening.

What services are affected?

The London Waterloo circular services via Hounslow, Richmond, Strawberry Hill, and Kingston will be cancelled.

All trains between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside will be diverted via Kingston, with an additional call there.

Your tickets will be accepted at no extra charge on:

London Buses between London Waterloo and Staines via any reasonable route

London Underground via any reasonable route

London Overground via any reasonable route

Great Western Railway services between London Paddington and Windsor & Eton Central / Reading

Thameslink and Southern services between Wimbledon / Clapham Junction and Central London