Passengers faced significant travel disruption today following two serious train accidents that brought the Thameslink network to a standstill. Since 11.44am on September 29, a key station has been closed as emergency services work to manage the ongoing chaos.
The disruption began at 9.13am when a person was struck by a train between Luton and St Albans City, resulting in the closure of all lines in the area. Initially, delays were expected to ease by 1pm, but services are now likely to remain disrupted until at least 3pm, with further delays possible.
Shortly before 11am, a second incident occurred between Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport. This forced Thameslink to cancel all services until further notice. Passengers have been strongly advised to avoid travel on the affected routes.
Thameslink issued the following advice: “If your train has come to a stand in between stations, please remain on board and do not attempt to leave the train unless directed to by a member of staff. We know where you are and we are working to get you on the move again shortly.”
Although both crashes happened outside London, the impact is being felt across the capital’s transport network. East Midlands Railway has suspended all services between Luton and London St Pancras International, while the Corby to London St Pancras Connect route is also out of service.
Additional operators including Southern, Great Western Railway, and Gatwick Express are experiencing delays and cancellations as a result of the incidents. National Rail has warned that travellers passing through the affected zones could face delays of up to an hour or cancellations while emergency crews continue their work.
The British Transport Police are actively investigating both incidents. Passengers affected by the distressing events are encouraged to seek support from the Samaritans. Confidential help is available by calling 116 123 or emailing [email protected].
Originally published by UKNIP.
