Nationwide Rail Disruptions Caused by Communication System Fault

A failure in the GSM-R radio system delayed train services across the UK, with issues expected to ease by midday.

• The GSM-R radio system, used for communication between train drivers and signal operators, failed to connect during start-up early Friday morning.
• Affected services include the Elizabeth line, South Western Railway, ScotRail, Thameslink, Southern, Southeastern, and Gatwick Express, among others.
• National Rail implemented a manual backup system, which caused initial delays but allowed services to operate safely.
• Passengers were advised to check live updates, with delays ranging from 10 to 20 minutes and some cancellations reported, particularly at major hubs like London Waterloo.
• Engineers are investigating the fault, which originated at the national telecommunications hub in Doncaster, and services are expected to normalize by midday.

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