Storm Austen: Railway passengers told to expect delays between Havant and Fratton in weather aftermath

Frustrated railway passengers have been told to expect more delays in the aftermath of stormy conditions.

Southern Rail has reported signalling trouble at Bedhampton station, which affects trains heading through Havant and Fratton. Several cancellations were made yesterday (October 24) as Storm Austen hit Portsmouth and the surrounding area with high winds and intense rain showers.

“A fault with the signalling system between Havant and Fratton means that trains have to run at a reduced speed,” Southern Rail said. “As a result, Southern services running between these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes.

“If you are travelling between Havant and Portsmouth, please allow up to an extra 10 minutes to complete your journey this morning. You can continue using your usual service but may experience some delays in the Bedhampton area.”

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Yesterday saw the Portsmouth to London Waterloo line impacted by severe delays after a tree fell on the line between Fareham and Botley, with a similar incident taking place at Haslemere. Passengers faced delays of several hours. Their tickets had to be accepted on buses betwee Portsmouth and Fareham, as well as Waterlooville.

Much of the intense weather conditions from Storm Austen happened on Friday, with trees being blown over and gusts peaking at around 50mph and 70mph. One couple in Portchester said a tornado hit their home in the early hours of October 23, with an “intense” gust of wind followed by a “massive bang”.

A spokesperson from the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) said: “Just after midnight on October 23, a weak tornado affected Portchester on the Hampshire south coast, with a land track of around 1 mile. It was associated with heavy showers that developed over the Channel and moved inland, linked to Storm Austen.”