RAIL passengers are facing long delays this morning due to problems on the network.

Trains travelling between Eastleigh and Basingstoke are suffering delays of as much as 40 minutes due to signalling problems.

Network Rail say they expect the issues - which are affecting all routes that travel through Winchester -  to persist until around noon.

A spokesman for South West Trains said: "Because of a signalling fault near Winchester all trains have to come to a stop at two of the signals and the driver must seek permission from the signaller to continue."

By 11am, South West Trains said delays were down to 10 minutes.

Southampton City Councillor Satvir Kaur is one of those passengers trying to make their way past Winchester and onto London.

She said commuters have been told that trains behind the one she is on are going onto Fareham and terminating at Woking.

She said: “The train we’re on is going on to Winchester. I don’t know what’s going to happen after that. We have been told to attempt to continue our journey but have been told it could take a long time."

Cllr Kaur started her morning commute to work in London at 7am and would normally be in London Waterloo by 8.16am.

She said: “I don’t think that’s going to happen now. I’m going to miss my international conference call, thank you South West Trains.

“We have been told that there’s going to be excessive delays. It’s jam-packed. There’s a lot of people standing and they’re not very happy.”