Travel chaos feared as 'electricity failure' prompts delays to major UK airport

Trains connecting London to a major UK airport face disruptions following a "failure of the electricity" between two stations. Brits heading to London Gatwick airport on Monday morning were warned they could experience delays to some services in light of the issue.

Gatwick Express said on its website: "A failure of the electricity between Clapham Junction and London Victoria is causing disruption to journeys between these stations. As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. This is expected until 10:00." Trains are unable to leave the depot this morning because of the electricity failure, which is impacting five services in particular.

Disruptions are mainly affecting: Gatwick Express services between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton, Southern services between East Grinstead and London Victoria, Southern services between Horsham/Dorking/Epsom and London Victoria (via Sutton), Southern services between Epsom Downs and London Victoria, and Southern services between East Croydon/West Croydon and London Victoria.

Gatwick Express advised commuters to check their journeys before leaving the house this morning as trains may be cancelled or amended.

Its website states: "Some services may be cancelled or amended, and some services may run with less coaches compared to normal. Where services are amended, this means that they may terminate and restart at a different station to normal.

"Please check before you travel this morning. If your planned train is affected then you will need to take a different train than planned, or change trains en route.

"Please note that services are likely to be busier than usual so you may wish to consider delaying your journey until after peak time."

Gatwick Express added that it and Southern were working with National Rail and electricity suppliers to fix the issue.

The live departure website for London Victoria shows numerous delayed Southern trains due to either "a problem in the depot" or "a fault with the signalling system".

At Clapham Junction, one Southern service to East Croydon has been cancelled, while others heading to London Victoria are delayed.

A Southern and Gatwick Express spokesperson said: "We apologise to customers for the disruption they've experienced this morning, caused by an issue with the power supply in the London Victoria area.

"We're working with Network Rail to fix the issue as quickly as possible. In the meantime we're advising customers to check before they travel this morning."