Rail bosses have promised top level talks after “shambolic” services left passengers furious.

Travellers have complained of lengthy delays throughout this month on First Capital Connect’s (FCC) Thameslink service, which connects stations across Merton with central London and Bedfordshire.

A FCC spokesman apologised for the delays, but said on three days they were caused by major signal failures.

It promised to hold senior level talks with Network Rail – which is responsible for maintaining signalling and tracks.

Jewellery designer Vicky Harrison, 27, commutes from her home near Mitcham Eastfields to Herne Hill using the FCC service, which she called an “absolute shambles”.

She said: “I've noticed it getting worse in the past few weeks – it was OK over the summer.”

Fellow passenger Adam Smith, who also joins the service in Mitcham, said: “The delays to the service are occurring on what feels like a weekly basis and with winter approaching I can only see these getting worse.

“If it’s not a technical fault, it’s the ‘wrong kind of sun’ and will no doubt be deep snow in the next few months.”

FCC’s own performance tables show that from October 16 to November 12 – the latest four-week period for which data has been published – 13.3 per cent of Thameslink services arrived at their destination more than five minutes late.

The figure is higher than for any other four-week period in the past six months.

An FCC spokesman said: “We would like to sincerely apologise to our customers for the recent disruption, which has been caused by major signal failures, specifically on November 7, 11 and 23.

“Network Rail manages the maintenance of signalling and track and we have taken this up with them at a senior level.”

A Network Rail spokesmaon said: “We experienced three days of signalling problems on the Thameslink route during November which caused a significant amount of disruption for passengers, for which we apologise.

“The issues were not directly linked, however, we continue to review all issues of this nature so we can learn any lessons and where possible take steps to minimise them happening again in future.”

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