A significant disruption on the UK’s rail network has led to delays on at least eight train lines this Friday morning. National Rail confirmed the issue is due to a “nationwide fault” with the GSMR radio system, which is used for communication between train drivers and signallers.
The affected services include the Elizabeth line, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, South Western Rail, Thameslink, Southeastern, and ScotRail. Major transport hubs like London Paddington and Victoria have experienced disruptions, with passengers advised to prepare for potential cancellations.
The GSMR system, which functions similarly to mobile phones but operates independently from commercial networks, is critical for emergency communication. Due to the failure, trains are restricted to a maximum speed of 100mph (160km/h) or 60mph (100km/h) in affected areas.
Delays of around 10-15 minutes are expected on services such as Southern, Thameslink, and Great Northern, with some short notice cancellations possible. The disruption is anticipated to continue until 12:00 GMT. The Gatwick Express is currently operating only between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, while Elizabeth line services between Reading and Heathrow are also affected.
ScotRail, which was impacted earlier, has resumed normal operations. National Rail is investigating the cause of the fault, and a workaround is being implemented, though it requires time to set up.