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Torrential rain causes travel chaos across parts of England Torrential rain and flooding causes travel chaos across parts of England
(35 minutes later)
Torrential rain and flash flooding has caused travel chaos across parts of the UK after half a month’s rain fell in just a few hours.Torrential rain and flash flooding has caused travel chaos across parts of the UK after half a month’s rain fell in just a few hours.
A train has derailed near Watford Junction causing major disruption to services in and out of London Euston station, but there are no reports of injuries, London Midland said. It was not immediately clear if the weather was a factor in the derailment. A train derailed near Watford Junction at about 7am, causing major disruption to services in and out of London Euston station, but there were no reports of injuries, London Midland said.
The areas worst hit by the heavy rain and flash flooding are across the east, south and south-east of England, which all have amber warnings in place, according to the Met Office. British Transport Police said officers were called to reports of a landslide at the Hunton Bridge Tunnel near Watford. They were working with fire and ambulance services at the scene.
Pictures on social media show severely waterlogged rail stations and roads, including Didcot Parkway, Newbury and Chieveley stations in Oxfordshire. Water can be seen rising up stairwells and partly submerging ticket barriers at Didcot Parkway station. A spokesman for London Midland told the Press Association: “There is a train derailment at Watford Junction – it is the 6.19am service from Milton Keynes to London Euston. It happened near the tunnels at Watford Junction station – there are no reports of any injuries.”
South West Trains have said as a result of the bad weather “several incidents are disrupting” the network. A spokesman said: “A lightning strike has caused substantial damage to certain elements of our signalling equipment on the line which runs between Ascot and Guildford via Aldershot. He said there would be disruption to services in and out of Euston for at least most of the morning.
The areas worst hit by the heavy rain and flash flooding were across the east, south and south-east of England, which all had amber warnings in place, according to the Met Office.
Pictures on social media showed severely waterlogged rail stations and roads, including Didcot Parkway, Newbury and Chieveley stations in Oxfordshire. Water could be seen rising up stairwells and partly submerging ticket barriers at Didcot Parkway station.
South West Trains said that as a result of the bad weather “several incidents are disrupting” the network. A spokesman said: “A lightning strike has caused substantial damage to certain elements of our signalling equipment on the line which runs between Ascot and Guildford via Aldershot.
“Train services running through these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.”“Train services running through these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.”
Flooding has also damaged equipment connected to a level crossing between Dorchester and Bournemouth, meaning they have to be manually controlled, with problems and delays set to go on until around 11am. Flooding has also damaged equipment connected to a level crossing between Dorchester and Bournemouth, meaning they have to be manually controlled, with problems and delays set to continue until about 11am.
A “large amount of infrastructure” at Woking has also been damaged by the water - with disruption and delays expected until the end of the day. Infrastructure at Woking has also been damaged by the water – with disruption and delays expected until the end of the day.
A narrow corridor west of London is expected to be hit by “exceptionally heavy, thundery rain” accompanied by hail on Friday, the Met Office said.A narrow corridor west of London is expected to be hit by “exceptionally heavy, thundery rain” accompanied by hail on Friday, the Met Office said.
Turnpike Lane and Manor House on the Piccadilly line were closed early in the day but reopened at about 6.20am, Transport for London (TfL) said. Turnpike Lane and Manor House on the Piccadilly line in north London were closed early in the day but reopened at about 6.20am, Transport for London (TfL) said.
Met Office meteorologist Martin Combe said 32.8mm of rain had fallen in just three hours in Farnborough, Hampshire – nearly half the 70mm average for September.Met Office meteorologist Martin Combe said 32.8mm of rain had fallen in just three hours in Farnborough, Hampshire – nearly half the 70mm average for September.
He said: “The showers and thunderstorms are going to carry on for quite some time moving slowly north and eastwards, remaining around London through the morning and all afternoon in East Anglia.”He said: “The showers and thunderstorms are going to carry on for quite some time moving slowly north and eastwards, remaining around London through the morning and all afternoon in East Anglia.”
The weather front is due to send temperatures tumbling ahead of the weekend, just days after parts of the country baked in 34C (93F) heat.The weather front is due to send temperatures tumbling ahead of the weekend, just days after parts of the country baked in 34C (93F) heat.
There were reports of roads and properties being inundated across Surrey, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Greater London as a band of torrential rain moved in from the Channel overnight.There were reports of roads and properties being inundated across Surrey, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Greater London as a band of torrential rain moved in from the Channel overnight.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said it had been called to reports of a house struck by lightning near Woking, while crews worked to pump water out of flooded premises across the county.Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said it had been called to reports of a house struck by lightning near Woking, while crews worked to pump water out of flooded premises across the county.
Fire chiefs advised motorists to avoid driving through flooded roads and turn around as pictures emerged of Maidenhead High Street resembling a swimming pool.Fire chiefs advised motorists to avoid driving through flooded roads and turn around as pictures emerged of Maidenhead High Street resembling a swimming pool.
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: “Roads are severely disrupted, including the M4 at the A34 junction with Newbury, the M40 throughout the Thames Valley and in particular the Watlington and Stokenchurch area.”A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: “Roads are severely disrupted, including the M4 at the A34 junction with Newbury, the M40 throughout the Thames Valley and in particular the Watlington and Stokenchurch area.”
Away from the storms, Friday will be a relatively cool and fresh day for most of the country with some sunshine. London is expected to see a high of 21C (70F), Cardiff 18C (64F) and Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast 17C (63F).Away from the storms, Friday will be a relatively cool and fresh day for most of the country with some sunshine. London is expected to see a high of 21C (70F), Cardiff 18C (64F) and Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast 17C (63F).