Friday, 29 Mar 2024

Bank holiday travel chaos as 'mums with prams forced to walk down train tracks'

Hundreds of passengers travelling across London have been forced to get off trains and walk down dark tracks following a power failure.

Commuters told Metro.co.uk that elderly travellers and mums with prams struggled to get back to the station through tunnels on foot on Friday evening.

Videos and images taken on the St Pancras 5.07pm train heading to Luton show schoolchildren and commuters being evacuated from the train via a ladder.

Thameslink said it had suffered an overhead power failure cancelling all trains going in or out St Pancras, however some lines are now beginning to resume again.

It came as hundreds were making their way home during rush hour from one of London’s busiest train stations ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

Many on trains to Luton said the delays caused them to miss their flights from the Bedfordshire airport.

One passenger said: ‘I’m devastated. I was going to fly to Amsterdam to see my wife but I’ve missed my flight now.’

Another said they were held on the train in a tunnel for over an hour before they were told to get off and walk back to St Pancras.

The commuter, who wished to remain anonymous, said mums with crying children had to walk for about 10 minutes down the tunnel.

He said: ‘It is an utter joke, we were stuck in a tunnel for hour and a half with no air conditioning in the heat.

‘Then they made us evacuate the train. There were mums with children who were clearly upset and elderly people were struggling.

‘People with prams and little children had to walk 10 minutes in the dark back to St Pancras.

‘Imagine what it’s like for the people stuck in a tunnel that’s not near a station?’

Thameslink wrote on its website: ‘Damage to the overhead wires at Kentish Town is disrupting trains running to and from London St Pancras International.

‘Disruption is expected until the end of the day.’

A spokesperson for Thameslink said earlier: ‘There is currently no estimate available as to when the line will reopen, however we anticipate trains will remain disrupted until at least 8pm.

‘Trains are currently at a stand in the area and there is currently no services to and from London St Pancras International. Journey times may be extended by at least 60 minutes.’

British Transport Police said: Officers are on scene assisting with trains stuck in the tunnel at St Pancras the overhead power is down currently on the Thameslink line so please find alternative routes until further notice.’

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