Commuters faced travel havoc today at London Paddington station after a trespasser was spotted on the tracks. The incident forced the closure of railway lines just as the evening rush hit, grinding trains to a halt.
Delays Hit Elizabeth Line, Paddington Station Overcrowds
Trains between Paddington, Heathrow Airport, and Reading suffered severe delays and cancellations, with services running up to 40 minutes late. The Elizabeth line concourse at Paddington was swamped as cancellations piled up, leaving passengers stranded.
Alice Murphy, Metro’s travel editor, described the scene: “It is absolutely chaos. It’s really difficult to move in the station, and crowds of people are piling up.”
Trespasser Walks Tracks, Lights Cigarette
Social media footage shows a man thought to be the trespasser casually strolling along the railway line between Hanwell and Southall, even lighting a cigarette. An eyewitness said: “The reason all the trains into and out of Paddington are currently delayed. Just casually walking up the fast line between Hanwell and Southall!”
Service Disruption Expected Until 7pm
National Rail confirmed that the trespasser was removed, and all lines through Southall have reopened. Yet, the mess is expected to continue until 7pm as services recover.
- Elizabeth line between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 4, Maidenhead, Reading, and between Shenfield and Heathrow Terminal 5
- Great Western Railway routes from London Paddington to Didcot Parkway, Oxford, Worcester Foregate Street, Hereford, Cardiff Central, Swansea, Carmarthen, Newbury, Bristol Temple Meads, Weston-super-Mare, Exeter St Davids, Paignton, Plymouth, and Penzance
- Heathrow Express between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5
Passengers planning to travel on these lines should expect ongoing delays and cancellations this evening. British Transport Police have been contacted for comment.
