Schools have been shut, buildings flooded and a train derailed near Watford Junction after hitting a landslip caused by the deluge.
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The train remained upright and no passenger injuries have been reported, but another train heading in the opposite direction had a glancing blow with it soon afterwards.
“Initially, all lines of the West Coast main line at this point were blocked but two of the four lines reopened at about 8am and services have resumed”.
A spokesman from London Midland and Virgin services would be “severely disrupted” from the north-west of England, Scotland, and the Midlands. Other trains were delayed after lightning struck a signal box. The mud had nothing to cling on to.
“Everyone is looking after each other with water and sugar but we’re anxious about our driver”.
Pictures on social media show severely waterlogged rail stations and roads, including Didcot Parkway, Newbury and Chieveley stations in Oxfordshire.
LONDON (AP) A London-bound passenger train hit a landslide triggered by heavy rain and derailed on Friday, injuring two people and sparking major travel disruption.
The Met Office weather service says Farnborough, south of London, got 32.8 mm of rain in three hours, half the monthly average for September.
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.
Fire and ambulance services are at the scene at the Hunton Bridge Tunnel.
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On the M40, Thames Valley Police said some lanes were closed because of traffic and floods.
