The Telegraph Mutiny on the trains as passengers press emergency buttons and jump out onto... There was mutiny on the trains on Friday night as passengers fed up with delays decided to take matters into their own hands and jump out onto the tracks.

Trains in south-east London were held up after a passenger pressed the emergency button and got off when their train was held outside a station.

It resulted in several people following suit and jumping onto the tracks near Lewisham station. Passengers reported seeing several people running onto the tracks.

Southeastern Railway said the situation was getting worse “because several people are jumping off trains onto the tracks”, warning that it would only cause further delays.

Passengers pressed the button for the emergency door release CREDIT: @AMYTHEGEEK/TWITTER

Southeastern said on Twitter "All routes through Lewisham are now at a stand after a passenger held on a train outside the station, operated the emergency door release and went onto the track.

“As a precaution, all lines through the station are currently blocked and no trains able to run. Please be patient.”

CREDIT: @KEIMAPAYTON/TWITTER

Passengers were letting themselves off Southeastern trains CREDIT: @BILLYQUITH/TWITTER

The railway operator warned passengers not to try the same thing, saying “it’ll make it far worse for EVERYONE and you won’t get home any quicker”.

The police and fire service were drafted in to help deal with the disruption.

The incident caused power to be switched off on the trains.

“If you’re on a stuck train outside a station and tempted to leave the train. DON’T! We won’t run trains thru the area until we know everyone is off the track - the more people on the track, the longer this’ll take. If you see someone about to do it, TELL THEM NOT TO”, Southeastern tweeted.

Many people chose to walk along the tracks rather than remain stuck on their trains CREDIT:@V0IDAL/TWITTER

A Southeastern spokesman said: "There are currently severe delays to trains in the Lewisham area following a serious trespass incident.

"Several passengers have forced open the doors on a train and disembarked while it was stopped outside of the station.

"We’ve had to turn the power off for safety reasons, and Southeastern staff are currently working closely with Network Rail and the Police to clear the trespassers from the tracks so that we can get trains moving again.

"We completely understand that passengers on delayed and busy trains may be frustrated, but they simply must stay on the train for their own safety.

“These trespassers risk being electrocuted by the ‘third’ rail or hit by other trains. They’re also causing significant further delay for other passengers that our staff are working hard to get home.”