As it powers trains, four South Western Railway services and passengers on board were trapped outside of stations along with ‘widespread’ chaos on the entire SWR network, Network Rail said.
Tom Desmond, an operations director for Network Rail, said that the trespasser was ‘very lucky to escape unharmed, with the risk of both trains travelling through the area at nearly 100mph as well as the threat of the third rail, which carries enough voltage to kill – instantly.’.
London Waterloo became overcrowded after ‘so many cancellations and late running services,’ Network Rail said.
Detective Sergeant Tim Deans, from the Metropolitan Police, said: ‘Seymour caused widespread disruption across south-west London and beyond.
Mr Desmond said the impact of trespassing on the rail network and customers ‘cannot be underestimated with the associated widespread disruption and multiple stranded trains.’.
