Rail commuters delayed by signal problems

Signalling problems led to frustration for commuters on Monday morning as trains across southern England were delayed.

A fault at Fratton in Portsmouth disrupted services to Wales and to Victoria and Waterloo in London.

Travellers on First Great Western, South West Trains and Southern endured delays of up to an hour.

A signal failure at Maidenhead in Berkshire also caused problems for Paddington services.

Earlier in the rush-hour, delays at London's Moorgate station had been caused by signal failure at Drayton Park, north London, and another fault at South Woodham Ferrers, in Essex, caused hold-ups for services arriving and departing from London Liverpool Street.

Network Rail said engineers were also at Clapton where a signalling problem caused trains from Liverpool Street to Chingford to be suspended.

Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT union, said: "This has been another miserable morning for commuters with services into London wrecked yet again."

A message on the National Rail Enquiries website said tickets would be valid on "reasonable" alternative routes.