Rail services in and around London are being disrupted for a third consecutive day after a man was reportedly injured dangling an object from a bridge that damaged overhead electric wires.
Problems at Stevenage and Hayes and Harlington caused delays to trains to and from King’s Cross, Paddington and Moorgate on Wednesday, National Rail Enquiries said.
Passengers were warned that Great Northern and Thameslink services through Stevenage would remain disrupted – including cancellations and 50-minute delays – for the rest of the day.
The severe damage to wires in Stevenage happened shortly before 5pm on Tuesday.
It was reported that a man was taken by air ambulance to a hospital in Cambridge after dangling an object from a bridge in Stevenage at about 4.40pm.
Hertfordshire police said they were called to Broadhall Way “following concerns for the welfare of a man who had injured himself while on a bridge crossing over a main railway line”. There were no arrests, the force added.
It initially also affected long-distance LNER trains serving locations on the east coast mainline.
Engineers worked overnight to fix nearly two miles of damaged wires at Hayes and Harlington, whichprevented thousands of mourners from travelling to Paddington for the Queen’s funeral on Monday morning. The cause of the problem is being investigated.
Lines were blocked from about 6.30am on the day of the funeral, triggering the suspension of services between London Paddington and Reading.
The line closure and delays led some to instead watch the funeral on their phones.
Passengers on a Great Western Railway train due to run to Paddington were told by a member of staff using the public address system: “My sincerest apologies for the delays on such an important day for the country.”
