A fire on a broken-down train near Basingstoke, Hampshire, has caused significant travel disruption and service cancellations for rail passengers today, 28 February 2026. This incident has blocked major routes, affecting those travelling between London Waterloo and the south coast.
The emergency was first reported to National Rail at 12:43 PM on Friday, 27 February 2026, when a fire broke out on a train between Basingstoke and Eastleigh. Local fire crews were called to the tracks to control the blaze so that the train could be safely moved for inspection.
Although the damaged train has been cleared from the line, South Western Railway has confirmed that travel remains heavily disrupted. The line between Basingstoke and Southampton Central is closed, and rail replacement buses are operating to ferry passengers through the affected area. Many services heading toward Portsmouth and Southampton are currently terminating early at Basingstoke instead of continuing to their usual destinations.
Railway engineers are now carrying out safety checks on the tracks and equipment to ensure they were not damaged by the heat from the fire. These inspections are necessary before the full service can be restored, leading to significant delays and cancellations for many passengers.
Passengers are being advised to check for updates and consider alternative routes where possible while the work continues. The disruption is expected to last throughout the weekend, including Sunday, 1 March, as staff work to return the train schedule to normal.
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