An
emergency
timetable


has
been
introduced
on
South
Western
Railway
diesel
services
west
of
Basingstoke,
after
drivers
reported
that
the
speed
of
their
trains
was
reduced.

The
problem,
affecting
trains
from
Salisbury
and
Exeter
depots,
has
been
identified
as
being
caused
by
their
fuel,
although
no
further
details
have
been
released.

Drivers
began
to
report
the
problem
on
Wednesday,
and
the
link
with
fuel
was
discovered
within
24
hours.
The
affected
trains
have
been
taken
out
of
service,
and
timetables
have
been
cut.
An
investigation
is
under
way.

South
Western
said
there
would
be
an
hourly
service
between
Basingstoke
and
Salisbury
and
a
train
every
two
hours
between
Salisbury
and
Southampton
via
Romsey,
and
also
between
Salisbury
and
Exeter
St
Davids.
Trains
from
London
Waterloo
to
Exeter
St
David’s
will
be
terminated
at
Salisbury.

SWR
chief
operating
officer
Stuart
Meek
said:
‘We’re
very
sorry
for
the
disruption
that
will
be
felt
by
our
customers
on
the
West
of
England
Line,
in
the
Romsey
area
and
other
destinations
west
of
Salisbury.
Over
the
last
two
days
some
services
have
suffered
delays
due
to
a
fuel
problem
and
so
we
have
had
no
choice
but
to
withdraw
the
affected
trains.

‘With
fewer
trains
available
and
a
risk
of
delays,
which
would
have
a
knock-on
effect
on
the
wider
network,
we
have
had
to
make
the
difficult
decision
to
operate
an
amended
timetable.
While
we
appreciate
it
is
frustrating
that
fewer
services
will
be
operating,
this
timetable
does
give
our
customers
a
service
they
can
have
confidence
in.’