A lightning strike brought chaos to rush hour train services in west London.
The signalling system at Egham was hit by lightning on Tuesday afternoon (March 29), leaving all lines in the area blocked, according to South West Trains.
The train operator said at 5.20pm that all services running through the station were subject to cancellation, delay or revision, with disruption expected to continue until 7pm.
It said all lines in the area between Feltham and Ascot/Addlestone/Windsor & Eton Riverside were blocked as the signals and points, which allow trains to change lines, were affected.
The following routes are affected:
- London Waterloo Reading
- London Waterloo Windsor & Eton Riverside
- London Waterloo Weybridge (via Brentford )
SWT said services on the Waterloo loop line via Hounslow were also affected.
It said staff were on their way to a number of locations to assess the damage and begin repairs.
In the meantime, Great Western Railway is accepting SWT passengers for travel between Reading an London Paddington , Reading and Guildford and Reading and Basingstoke, and Windsor & Eton Central and Slough for connections to London Paddington.
London Underground will accept South West Trains passengers via any reasonable route, including Bakerloo Line between Paddington and Waterloo, Piccadilly Line to and from Hounslow and District Line to and from Richmond.
For travel updates, follow @SW_Trains on Twitter.
