Trespasser causes overcrowding at London Bridge

Overcrowding ++ There were scenes of confusion and crowding at London Bridge during last night’s rush hour, because all trains had been stopped after a trespasser was seen on the line. Passengers complained of panic and long queues for escalators. In a Twitter message, Southeastern managing director Steve Wight said: ‘This is the second time that crowd control has been required at London Bridge recently. The last occasion was when a points failure caused disruption. Tonight's disruption was due to an emergency call stopping all trains due to a trespasser. A review will be held.’ Southeastern has already been under fire for changing its rush hour timetables last month, which mean fewer direct services run to and from Cannon Street.

Drivers’ strikes ++ Special strike day timetables are set to be published by National Rail tomorrow, as ASLEF drivers prepare to strike on two days next week. The walkouts will affect 14 train operators in England on 1 and 3 February, and the RMT has also called out its driver members on the same days. The Rail Delivery Group said many lines will have no services, and where trains do run they will start later and finish earlier. Services on the days after each strike may be disrupted for a while, because some trains will have been left out of position, and in some cases trains may also be affected during the evenings before each walkout. The RDG has estimated that about 30 per cent of the usual services will run during the strikes.

New trains ++ Transport for Wales’ £800 million fleet of Class 197 units is being officially launched by the Welsh Government’s minister for rural affairs and north Wales Lesley Griffiths, at a ceremony in Llandudno. Built in Newport by CAF, the 77 trains will be used on many routes. They have leather seats, air conditioning, wider doors and information screens. The first 197s entered service on the Conwy Valley line last month, but today’s ceremony marks the formal launch.

Back to News