London travel news LIVE: Major traffic jams as Dartford Crossing and M25 at Godstone reopen after crashes
The M25 in Surrey was completely closed anticlockwise between J6 (Godstone) and J5 (M26 link) due to a serious crash, with around five-mile tailbacks throughout most of Thursday.
The road has since reopened but National Highways South-East warned motorists faced 90-minute delays following the incident.
Elsewhere on the M25 there were big tailbacks after the Dartford tunnel was closed on Thursday due to a crash.
Travellers faced hour-long delays once it reopened.
Meanwhile, rail passengers were warned they faced reduced services on Thursday as train drivers begin an overtime ban ahead of a series of fresh strikes.[1]
The overtime ban is from Thursday to Saturday and for 48 hours from next Monday which is likely to cause delays and cancellations to services.
“Plan your journey and check your first and last train times.” National Rail warned.
For the latest travel updates please scroll down.
Severe delays on Elizabeth Line
07:28 , Matt Watts
Transport for London are warning there are severe delays between Paddington and Reading / Heathrow Airport while work is done to fix a faulty freight train in the West Ealing area. There is reportedly a good service on the rest of the line.
Live coveage ends
21:39 , Jacob Phillips
The Evening Standard’s live blog has ended.
Read the latest stories from the Standard here[2].
Pedestrian in his 60s dies after being hit by van on North Circular
21:20 , Jacob Phillips
A pedestrian has died after a collision with a van on the North Circular[3].
Police [4]were called to a collision between a van and a man believed to be in his 60s on the A406 Angel Road Flyover, Edmonton[5], at around 2.15pm on Thursday.
Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service[6].
Crash causes 30 minute delays by Blackwell Tunnel
17:27 , Jacob Phillips
There a long delays due to a crash on the approach to the Blackwall Tunnel.
Congestion has reached Bow Roundabout and it is taking around 30 minutes to get through the area.
Story continues
Severe delays on the North Circular
16:43 , Jacob Phillips
The North Circular is blocked and there are severe delays due to “crash investigation work”.
The incident took place on the A406 North Circular Westbound at Angel Road (Kenninghall Interchange).
There is congestion back to Woodford.
Further delays on M25
15:52 , Jordan King
There are long delays due to earlier crash on M25 clockwise before J1B A296 Princes Road (Dartford), with congestion to J30 (Lakeside / Tilbury).
All lanes have been reopened but travel time is about 30 minutes.
Dartford Crossing reopens after temporary closure following ‘multi-vehicle crash’
15:37 , Sami Quadri
The Dartford Crossing was partially closed this afternoon after a “multiple vehicle” crash.
Traffic was held on the approach in Dartford between junction 1B on the M25 and the tunnels to install tunnel closure.
The tunnel has since been reopened but delays coming into Essex remain.
A National Highways spokesman said: “The vehicles involved in the earlier multiple vehicle collision on the A282 Dartford East Tunnel have now been recovered from the scene.
“All lanes and the east tunnel have been reopened with residual delays of up to 60 minutes on the approach.”
Dartford tunnel clear but delays remain
15:34 , Jordan King
A crash took place on the M25 Dartford Tunnel anti-clockwise from J1A A206 (Dartford) to J31 A1306 (Lakeside / Purfleet).
The road is now clear but there are still delays of up to 45 minutes.
Minor delays on Piccadilly Line
15:30 , Sami Quadri
There are currently minor delays between Acton Town and Heathrow Airport due to train cancellations. Good service on the rest of the line.
Some lanes on M25 reopen
15:29 , Jordan King
The M25 in Surrey has been reopened anti-clockwise between J6 (Godstone) and J5 (M26 link).
Lanes one and two (of four) remain closed for ongoing Police investigation work and barrier repairs.
But delays of up to 90 minutes still remain on the approach.
Minor delays to Central line
12:53 , Jordan King
There are currently delays between Loughton and Epping due to an earlier customer incident at Debden – goos service on the rest of the line.
M25 tailbacks now around five miles
12:35 , Jordan King
There have been no new announcements about the congestion on the M25 but traffic monitoring site Inrix shows that around three miles of tailbacks seem to have cleared on one side of the closure.
National Highways South East is still reporting up to 90-minute waits on approach.
Minor delay to Piccadilly line
12:06 , Jordan King
Minor delays between Uxbridge and Acton Town, eastbound only – good service on the rest of the line.
Minor delays to Metropolitan line
11:50 , Jordan King
There are currently delays between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge due to train cancellations – good service on the rest of the line.
Island Line and South Western Railway affected by Aslef strike
11:43 , Jordan King
Today and on Friday 5 April, Saturday 6 and Tuesday 9 April
A revised timetable will operate, with reductions to some services.
Services may also be subject to late notice cancellations, so please check your journey before you set off.
On Saturday, engineering work may impact your journey.
Gatwick Express not running today
11:15 , Jordan King
Today and on Friday 5, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 April, the usual non-stop Gatwick Express service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton will not operate.Gatwick Express have added extra stops at Clapham Junction and East Croydon, and as such these trains will be operating as Southern services. Gatwick Express tickets will be valid on Southern and Thameslink at no additional cost.
The line plans to run its usual Saturday and Sunday services this weekend.
More on the M25 crash
10:29 , Jordan King
Surrey Police said the crash involved a black Vauxhall Astra.
The force advised drivers to try and find alternative routes.
It also asked those who witnessed the crash to get in touch.
If you witnessed the collision please contact us via DM using reference PR/20240404-0091.
— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) April 4, 2024[8]
Bakerloo line no longer delayed
10:20 , Jordan King
The Bakerloo line has returned to running a good service.
More delays on M25
10:15 , Jordan King
There are currently long delays on all approaches to J28 of the M25 (A12) as there appears to be a fault with the traffic lights on BrookStreet roundabout.
Engineers are on their way to investigate the issue.
Hammersmith and City line no longer delayed
09:38 , Jordan King
The Hammersmith and City line has returned to running a good service.
Up to 90-minute delays on M25 in Surrey
09:25 , Jordan King
You could be waiting up to 90 minutes on approach on the M25 in Surrey, between J6 (Godstone) and J5, after a crash earlier this morning.
Bakerloo line part suspended again
09:22 , Jordan King
There is currently no service between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone due to power supply failure – good service on the rest of the line
Minor delays to Hammersmith and City line
09:17 , Jordan King
The delays to the Hammersmith and City line did clear up, but now they have started again – because of an earlier faulty train.
Bakerloo line no longer delayed
09:15 , Jordan King
The Bakerloo line has returned to running a good service.
Bakerloo suspended
08:45 , Jordan King
There is currently no service between Stonebridge Park and Harrow and Wealdstone due to a power supply failure – good service on the rest of the line.
London Overground part suspended
08:31 , Jordan King
There is currently no service between Willesden Junction and Watford Junction due to power supply failure at Hatch end – good service on other routes.
Minor delays to Hammersmith and City line
08:29 , Jordan King
There are minor delays due to a earlier faulty train.
Diversion route for M25 closure
08:04 , Jordan King
Drivers are advised to follow the Hollow Square diversion symbol on road signs.
-
Exit the M25 at J6 then at the Godstone Interchange take the 3rd exit onto the A22 towards East Grinstead.
-
At the A22/A25 roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A25 towards Westerham.
-
Follow the A25 through Limpsfield, Oxted, Westerham, Brasted and Sundridge.
-
At the traffic signal junction A25/M25 turn left to re-join the M25 towards Dartford Crossing.
More on M25 closure:
08:04 , Jordan King
The M25 in Surrey is closed anti-clockwise between J6 (Godstone) and J5 (M26 link) due to a serious collision.
All emergency services are working at the scene with Surrey police leading the response.
Traffic Officers are assisting with strategic closures on the approach.
Minor delays to Circle line
08:02 , Jordan King
There are currently minor delays clockwise while TfL fixes a faulty train – good service anti-clockwise.
Part closure to Tram again
08:01 , Jordan King
Until April 24, there will be no service between Wellesley Road / George Street and Beckenham Junction / Elmers End / New Addington.
Eastbound trams will operate from Wimbledon to Wellesley Road, and westbound trams will operate from George Street to Wimbledon.
Part closure on the Northern line again
08:00 , Jordan King
There is no service between Golders Green and Edgware due to planned engineering works, with replacement buses operating, until April 11.
Severe delays to District line
07:59 , Jordan King
There are currently severe delays between Tower Hill, Ealing Broadway and Richmond westbound only while TfL fixes a faulty train – good service on the rest of the line.
M25 closure warning due to crash
07:27 , Matt Watts
Drives are being warned of delays after the M25 was closed anti-clockwise between J6 (Godstone) and J5 (M26 link)
Warning of delays and cancellations as train driver industrial action begins
07:24 , Matt Watts
Train drivers will launch an overtime ban on Thursday ahead of a series of fresh strikes which will cause travel chaos for passengers.
Members of Aslef are embroiled in a 20-month dispute over jobs with no sign of a breakthrough and no plans for any talks.
Passengers are being advised to check before they travel, with some areas having no services on strike days.
The overtime ban is from Thursday to Saturday and for 48 hours from next Monday which is likely to cause delays and cancellations to services.
A strike on Friday will hit Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands and London Northwestern.
On Saturday train drivers will walk out on Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, LNER, Heathrow Express, Northern and TransPennine Express.
A strike on Monday will affect c2c, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express), Great Northern, Southeastern, Southern, South Western Railway (including the Island Line) and Thameslink.
Train operators warned that on strike days it is likely that little or no services will run across large areas of the network operated by the affected train companies.
Services are also likely to be disrupted and start later on the day immediately following a full strike day.
On days where an overtime ban is in place, the timetable for some train companies may be revised in advance or services subject to short-notice delay or cancellation on the day.
Passengers are warned to expect significant disruption and advised to plan ahead and check before they travel.
A law is now in place aimed at ensuring a minimum level of service during rail strikes but none of the operators involved in the Aslef dispute have applied to use it.
References
- ^ train drivers begin an overtime ban ahead of a series of fresh strikes. (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ here (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ North Circular (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Police (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Edmonton (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ London Ambulance Service (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ here (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ April 4, 2024 (twitter.com)