Summary

  • Two hurt after train derails in tunnel near Watford following landslip near entrance

  • Derailed train struck by another in the tunnel

  • Almost 400 passengers put on recovery trains

  • Severe disruption set to continue on mainline services

  • Landslip caused by "torrential rain", says Network Rail

  • Two men jailed for bludgeoning man to death with dumbbell

  • Bedford councillor cleared of rape

  • Updates on Friday, 16 September 2016

Live Reporting

Alex Pope

  1. Train derailment: Passengers asked 'not to travel through Watford'

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    London Midland is advising passengers not to travel through the Watford area this morning following a landslide and train derailment.

    Our priority is to look after our customers. We can expect disruption until at least the afternoon, so the advice is not to travel to or from Euston this morning and check for further updates later today. London Midland train tickets are being accepted on alternative routes."

    London Midland, Spokeperson

    Train mapLondon Midland

  2. Radar image of rain and thunderstorms

    Here's the latest radar image, showing the rain and thunderstorms over East Anglia at 09:40. 

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  3. Train derailment: London Midland tickets being accepted on Thameslink

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  4. Train derailment: Passengers still on trains

    Carol Abercrombie
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    I have just spoken to Darryl Keen, the deputy chief fire officer for Herts Fire, who has two crews at the scene of this morning's train derailment in a tunnel just outside of Watford. 

    He says several hundred people are still on the two trains that clipped each other, after one derailed after hitting a landslide. 

    He says there's not been any "significant damage or injuries", but a "train leaving a trainline will cause disruption".

    He says crews are working to get the passengers off the train safely and away from the lines, but they don't want to "rush it" as it would mean they would have to stand outside in the bad weather. 

  5. Train derailment: Photos of landslide

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    Here are the latest pictures showing the damage caused by heavy rain on the railway track, just outside of Watford this morning.

    LandslideVirgin Trains/PA
    Water on railway tracksVirgin Trains/PA
    Water on rail trackVirgin Trains/PA
    Landslide by railway trackVirgin Trains/PA

  6. Train derailment: Departures board at Milton Keynes show delays

    This is the departures board at Milton Keynes and you can see all services on London Euston and Virgin Trains are delayed out of to the capital and up through Beds, Herts, Bucks and Northants.

    Train delaysSeren Everson

  7. Train derailment: 'Do not travel into London'

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  8. Train derailment: Second person being treated by ambulance staff

    The East of England Ambulance Service has just updated to say it's treated a second person at the scene of the Watford train derailment. 

    Paramedics are helping a woman, believed to be in her 40s, with chest pains. 

    So far only one other commuter has been treated - a man with a minor neck injury. 

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  9. Train derailment: Full Network Rail statement

    #WatfordJunction

    If you missed it, here's the full statement from Network Rail that has been released following this morning's derailment near Watford.

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  10. Train derailment: Train services into Euston cancelled

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  11. Train derailment: One person treated at scene for minor injuries
    Breaking

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    The East of England Ambulance Service has just confirmed paramedics have treated only one patient after this morning's derailment, in a tunnel just outside of Watford. 

    The service said a man was treated for a neck injury and his condition was "not thought to be serious or life-threatening".

    Paramedics were called at 07:17 and have an ambulance officer, ambulance crew and hazardous area response team (HART) at the scene.

  12. Train derailment: Photo from the scene

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    This is a photo at the scene of this morning's derailment near Watford.

    A landslip appears to be visible on the left of the entrance to Hunton Bridge tunnel.

    Train services into London are widely disrupted.

    Train lineSouth Beds New Agency

  13. East Midlands Trains warns service is 'very busy' as passengers use them as alternative

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  14. Train derailment: London Midland customers advised not to travel into London unless urgent

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  15. Train derailment: London Midland apologises for not answering individual tweets

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  16. Train derailment: Passengers taken from train

    Tom Edwards
    Transport Correspondent, BBC London

    We're getting more information from Network Rail now. 

    It says: "Shortly before 07:00 a train heading south to London (06:19 London Midland service from Milton Keynes to London) hit a landslip, caused by torrential rain, at the north end of the Watford Tunnel (approx one mile north of Watford Junction station). 

    "This caused a small portion of the train to derail."

    It added: "A short time after another train heading north gave a glancing blow with the derailed train. 

    "The train heading north did not leave the tracks. 

    "Passengers have been taken from the partially-derailed train and we are working to remove the train and reopen the remaining two lines as quickly as possible."

  17. Train derailment: Caused by 'torrential rain'
    Breaking

    Network Rail has confirmed "a train hit a landslip, caused by torrential rain, resulting in a small section of the train to leave the tracks a few miles north of Watford. 

    The company added: "The train remained upright and there are no reported passenger injuries.

    "Our priority is to reopen the railway as soon as it is safe to do so. A full investigation into what happened will take place."

    Engineers are on site and train services are now running through the area, but the firm said it will be some time before a normal timetable resumes.   

    Passengers are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before they travel for the latest information.  

  18. Train derailment: Train 'hit another train', says Network Rail
    Breaking

    Tom Edwards
    Transport Correspondent, BBC London

    Network Rail says at 07:00 a train struck a landslip a few miles north of Watford and a small portion of the train derailed and stayed upright. 

    The derailed train then "touched" another train going in the opposite direction. The other train carried on with the journey, with the collision being described as not serious.

    Two lines re-opened at 08:00. Emergency services are at the scene but there are no reports of any injuries. 

  19. Train derailment: Scene at Watford station

    Justin Dealey
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    I'm at Watford railway station. When I got here every train into London was delayed and there were people everywhere. 

    I've been talking to the station manager, Keith Tullet. He told me an investigation is under way into the train derailment, but they don't have any more information at the moment. 

    Some fast trains are now running into London, but he said some services are currently stranded at different points on the track and are being delayed.

  20. Train derailment: Full extent of delays 'not yet known'

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