Commuters faced severe delays and cancellations this morning after a fire in a power supply cabinet caused major disruption on the railway line between Barnham and Horsham.

Network Rail confirmed that the fire, which broke out earlier today, damaged a key cabinet that powers the electric rail supplying trains on the route. The blaze has since been extinguished, but the incident left sections of the track without electricity, bringing services to a halt.

Passengers on the affected Southern Rail services have been advised to check for alternative routes and travel updates as engineers work to restore power and repair the damage.

In a statement issued to UK News in Pictures, Network Rail Kent & Sussex said:

“We’re really sorry for the disruption to @SouthernRailUK passengers this morning between Barnham & Horsham due to a fire in a power supply cabinet. It means there is no electricity to the electric rail which powers trains.

The fire has been extinguished and our engineers are working hard to fix the damage as quickly and safely as possible. Please keep checking with @SouthernRailUK for the latest travel advice and the alternative options available.”

Southern Rail has warned passengers to expect continued delays, short-notice cancellations, and crowding across the network, especially during the morning peak. Ticket acceptance is in place on some local bus and alternative rail services.

One commuter at Horsham Station said:

“I’ve been waiting for over an hour now. There’s no clear indication of when trains will run again — it’s chaos.”

While engineers are working to restore the affected section, no exact time has been given for full service resumption.

Passengers are urged to monitor live travel updates on the National Rail Enquiries website or follow @SouthernRailUK and @NetworkRailSE on social media for real-time updates.