Parts of the UK are currently getting battered by rain just in time for rush hour as commuters head back home from work.
Both National Highways and National Rail have issued warnings for heavy rain and there are already delays of up to an hour on both the M25 and M5 this evening.
Already on the tubes there is no service between Earl’s Court and Wimbledon while emergency services deal with a casualty on the track.
Elsewhere a lorry driver was injured after he crashed off a bridge on the M6 in Cheshire.
Drivers could only watch in shock when the HGV crashed off the Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 in Warrington.
Traffic was in chaos for hours, and the motorway is still feeling the brunt of the incident as two lanes out of four remain closed northbound from J20 to J21 for emergency repair works. Scroll further down to read what happened.
Lanes now reopened on both M5 and M25
National Highways has confirmed that traffic is starting to get back to normal after lanes reopened following earlier delays on the both the M5 and M25.
60 minute delays on part of the M25 as rush hour hits
For Londoners and others driving back home this evening it is not looking good on the M25 right now.
National Highways East confirmed that three lanes are currently closed on the M25 anti-clockwise between Waltham Abbey and Enfield.
It means there are 60 minute delays on this part of the orbital motorway.
National Highways East tweeted out the news.
Multi-vehicle crash blocks part of M5
A multiple vehicle crash means that part of the M5 is blocked causing travel misery for hundreds of drivers.
There are currently delays of up to 50 minutes between junction 8 and junction 9 northbound.
National Highways South West tweeted out the news on its X channel.
District line part-suspended
The district line is part-suspended between Wimbledon and Earl’s Court while emergency services deal with a casualty on the track.
Pictures from High Street Kensington station show many commuters on the platform trying to get home but to no avail.
There are also severe delays between Edgware Road and Earl’s Court due to a Network Rail signal failure at East Putney.
There is currently a good service on the rest of the line.
Trains between Euston and Edinburgh face 75-minute delays
Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express passengers should brace themselves for difficult journeys.
It comes after urgent repairs on the track between Penrith and Carlisle.
Some lines have reopened, but trains could still be cancelled, severely delayed by up to 75 minutes or revised, National Rail said.
The issue is set to last at least until 4pm.
Here are the affected routes.
- Avanti West Coast between London Euston and Glasgow Central / Edinburgh
- TransPennine Express between Manchester Airport and Glasgow Central / Edinburgh
You can find detailed ticket acceptance advice here.
Major delays on the TfL network
This is what to expect if you’re travelling on the Transport for London network ahead of the rush hour.
- District line – Severe delays between Wimbledon and Edgware Road due to a Network Rail signal failure in East Putney. The rest of the line has good service
- London Overground – No trains between Hackney Downs and Walthamstow while engineers fix the track fault that has plagued passengers all day. There are severe delays between Walthamstow Central and Chingford and minor delays between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt and Enfield Town
- Tram – No service between East Croydon and Reeves Corner due to a police incident
Road floods in Nottingham
Drivers have been warned of a partial road closure in the Stapleford area of Nottingham following wet weather for days.
One lane is closed on the A52 Brian Clough Way westbound.
The flooded spot is located between A6007 Ilkeston Road (Bramcote Island) and B6003 Toton Lane (Bardills Island).
Traffic in the area is coping well at lunchtime, a traffic alert from Inrix shows.
It comes after days of heavy rain and flooding as the Met Office issued fresh weather warnings yesterday.
Elsewhere, one man got his dinghy out to make the most of the waterlogged road in Hale, Cheshire.
The outdoor enthusiast braved the torrential rain in the Greater Manchester village unfazed by the downpour as he paddled in the middle of the road.
Statement from Ryanair after plane tyre explosion
Here is a full statement from the budget airline.
‘Flight FR846 from Barcelona to Milan Bergamo (1 Oct) experienced a tyre issue upon landing at Milan Bergamo Airport.
‘Passengers disembarked normally, and the aircraft was inspected by engineers, who are currently servicing the aircraft so that it can return to service.’
Network Rail comments on broken track in east London
A spokesperson for Network Rail told Metro.co.uk: ‘Earlier this morning, we received reports of a broken rail at Hackney Downs.
‘As a result, services between Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale, as well as between Hackney Downs and Chingford, are currently reduced.
‘Delays and cancellations are expected until further notice. Our teams are on site and are working to resolve the issue as swiftly as possible.
‘We apologise for the disruption and advise passengers that services will be busier than usual. Please allow extra time for your journey.’
Ryanair passengers get stuck on runway after plane tyres explode
A Ryanair passenger plane made a dramatic landing at Bergamo Orio al Serio airport near Milan, Italy.
It is understood the flight from Barcelona was touching down this morning when the tyres suddenly exploded.
Passengers were taken to safety through mobile stairs, the Sun reports, and the aircraft was surrounded by emergency crews.
While no injuries have been reported, the runway was left worse for wear due to the impact.
Operations at the airport have been suspended ‘due to an aircraft grounded on the runway due to technical problems,’ the airport warned on its social media.
‘Departing flights are delayed and arriving flights may be diverted or cancelled until reopened,’ it said.
Stranded cruise ship forced to turn back just hours after setting sail
The luxury Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship has made headlines again after it was stranded for months at Belfast Harbour.
After finally setting sail last night, it was forced to turn back suddenly.
Are you on board? We’re keen to hear from you so please email webnews@metro.co.uk.
Theft of signalling cables sparks 60-minute train delays
Signal faults are often to blame for delays and cancellations on the rail network.
But this time thieves are behind major disruption in the Mexborough area, South Yorkshire.
They snatched signalling cables, meaning some lines are now blocked at least until 11am.
Trains running between Doncaster and Sheffield could be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised, National Rail said.
This is affecting CrossCountry, Northern and TransPennine Express services.
What is Name Your Car Day and when is it?
You might have spotted personalised register plates ranging from bizarre to rude on UK roads.
But have you thought about the endearing names many drivers call their cars?
New figures have revealed that a third of UK drivers (36%) have given a pet name to their vehicle.
Aidan Rusby, CEO of Carmoola who commissioned the study, said: ‘Millions of motorists give their car a name.
‘For most, it’s just a bit of fun but some owners stress over their choice and even about how it could affect their relationship with their car.’
The motoring expert said many more would like to do so, but are unsure how to name their trusty four-wheeled.
Here are seven tips from Joel Stein, a car-naming consultant, on how to name your car ahead of the National Name Your Car Day tomorrow.
- Choose a name that reflects the car’s so-called personality and your own
- Consider the car’s colour, make, size and features
- Check out your number plate for inspiration and ideas
- Use rhyming and alliteration like ‘Yoda the Skoda’ or ‘Neo the Clio’
- Repeat the name out loud to hear how it rolls off the tongue
- Keep the process light-hearted and go with your gut
- And finally, make it meaningful – this could be after your favourite band, celebrity or a place
Long delays on the M25 near Watford after crash
Drivers on the M25 should allow extra time for their journeys this morning along with patience after a crash between junction J21 and J19.
While the worst of the crash has been cleared, it is still causing residual delays on the anticlockwise carriageway.
Inrix warned of congestion to the A41 back to Leavesden, from Kings Langley, via Watford and Rickmansworth.
Traffic is also heavy on the M1 to junction J5 of Watford, the latest traffic alert shows.
Faulty signal delays trains on Salisbury railway line
ICYMI – Lorry crashes off bridge
A truck driver had a narrow escape after the lorry fell 196 feet off a bridge in Warrington.
Traffic on the M6 ground to a halt last night after the lorry fell off the Thelwall Viaduct and smashed into the ground.
The driver was taken to hospital with injuries but they are not thought to be life-threatening.
Dramatic footage from the scene shows the mangled lorry on the bottom of the bridge.
Firefighters used specialist equipment to stop around 1,000 litres of bio-diesel leaking into the environment.
The motorway has since reopened for traffic, but two lanes remain closed northbound this morning for emergency barrier repairs.
Travel advice to Stansted Express during disruption
Greater Anglia and Stansted Express trains cannot run between London Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale via Hackney downs.
While those travelling from Stansted Airport should be able get into Liverpool Street station, passengers going there from central London face issues.
Here are the trains that will be diverted via Seven Sisters.
- Stansted Express from London London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport
- London Liverpool Street to Hertford East
And this service will be rerouted via a longer route to Tottenham Hale.
- London Liverpool Street to Cambridge North
Have you been affected by the disruption today? Please email noora.mykkanen@metro.co.uk.
Latest London Underground status updates
- Elizabeth line: Severe delays between Paddington and Heathrow Terminals/Reading while Network Rail fix a points failure at Southall. Good service on the rest of the line. Tickets are being accepted on local bus services.
- London Overground: No service between Hackney Downs and Chingford, and severe delays between Liverpool Street/Cheshunt and Enfield Town while we fix a track fault at Hackney Downs. Good service on all other routes.
- Piccadilly line: Minor delays between Hyde Park Corner and Cockfosters eastbound only while we fix a track fault at Piccadilly Circus. Good service on the rest of the line.
- District line: Minor delays between Wimbledon and Edgware Road while Network Rail fix a signal failure at East Putney. Good service on the rest of the line.
Full list of routes affected by Hackney Downs broken rail
- Greater Anglia between London Liverpool Street and Hertford East/Stansted Airport/Cambridge/Cambridge North/Ely
- London Overground between London Liverpool Street and Enfield Town/Cheshunt/Chingford
- Stansted Express between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport
National Rail statement on broken rail in full
‘A broken rail was found at Hackney Downs overnight last night.
‘The extent of the damage meant that the repair work could not be completed in time for the start of service today.
‘An altered service plan will operate today.
‘Network Rail staff will be attending the site of the broken rail at the end of service, and will work to carry out the necessary repairs overnight tonight.’
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