Train derailment leaves Londoners facing chaotic commute
Thousands of commuters in London face early morning chaos after a freight train derailed in the southeast of the city, causing major gridlock to the railway network, with many services suspended or delayed.
Railway company Southeastern tweeted early Tuesday that the train derailed in the Lewisham area of the city already shrouded in freezing fog and plummeting temperatures.
@Se_Railway I think I have found the source of your problems in #lewisham - don't think this freight train is meant to look like this!! 🙈 pic.twitter.com/Yzq9aSeVKn
— Laura (@laurabullas) January 24, 2017
The exact cause of the derailment is not yet known, but there were no passengers on board and no injuries reported, according to the Press Association.
"All services through the area will be disrupted, with some services suspended,” the rail network tweeted, adding that “disruption is expected to last all day.”
A freight train has derailed in the #Lewisham area. All services through the area will be disrupted, with some services suspended
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) January 24, 2017
Update #Lewisham: Disruption is expected to last all day. Please make sure you check before travelling
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) January 24, 2017
Affected passengers will be able to use their tickets on buses and underground services in the area, although many have taken to social media to vent their frustration.
#Lewisham - Tickets will be accepted on all London bus routes, as well as London Underground, Thameslink, Tramlink and DLR services.
— National Rail (@nationalrailenq) January 24, 2017
When a freight train has derailed in #lewisham, Destination fucked! #southeasternpic.twitter.com/d2CzuwHQW6
— Adam ٩(●̮̮̃•̃)۶ (@Scrappyd87) January 24, 2017
Third week in the city and just experienced my first train delay. I'd class that as an accomplishment! #Southeastern#lewisham#shitters
— Scott Thomson (@Scotty_Thomson) January 24, 2017
Trains thru Lewisham disrupted. So why non Lewisham trains cancelled @Se_Railway? Any serous effort made?
— TransportforCharlton (@TfCharlton) January 24, 2017
It’s not just train users who have been affected with their morning commute, with around 100 flights at Heathrow Airport cancelled for the second day in a row due to the testing weather conditions gripping the city.
Flying from Heathrow/Gatwick/London City on Tuesday? More fog disruption forecast, I'm afraid. Good luck everybody. https://t.co/6n2xoNIGbP
— Simon Calder (@SimonCalder) January 23, 2017
Does it only get foggy at Heathrow?
— Mr Wazzock (@Ianhirst666) January 24, 2017
With the Met Office having issued a “severe” weather warning for most of England, visibility has been greatly reduced at the airport, while a number of delays have also been reported at Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton and London City Airports.
Good morning, Isabel here. Stay #weatheraware as there's dense fog in the south today. Damp & breezy further north: https://t.co/a70feA0Qeqpic.twitter.com/AnlNaSgpPv
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 24, 2017