This morning passengers faced huge delays and cancellations due to yesterday’s derailed train at Paddington.
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Engineers are working overnight to fix the damage caused to the overhead line equipment damaged when the train hit it, but even if progress is made it is likely that services will be disrupted on Friday morning and possibly into the afternoon.
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “An empty train travelled past a red signal outside Paddington station which activated an automatic derailment”.
Overhead line equipment was damaged and trains are able to access only three of the six lines serving the station.
No Heathrow Connect service between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport.
The rail company also warned that services are expected to be “very busy” today as the Royal Ascot races are taking place.
Advice was issued to passengers to change their route via London Waterloo or Marylebone, but many were unable to do so as these trains became crowded.
Train services between London Paddington and Cardiff Central are suspended.
Police were called as tensions boiled among angry would-be train travellers last night.
A Great Western Railways operator has apologised for the inconvenience, and recommended that passengers use CrossCountry railways on reasonable routes.
“We hope this will improve as further progress is made and we would ask customers to check before travel and only travel if absolutely necessary”.
Customers who chose not to travel on the evening of Thursday, June 16, will be able to use their tickets for travel on Friday, June 17.
One passenger tweeted a picture of empty departure screens at Paddington, while others described their frustration at delays.
Clive Nunn wrote: ‘Won’t make it to the concert now.
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It said it was “working to reopen lines as quickly as possible” but widespread disruption would be likely until about 22:15 BST.
