London Euston chaos: Passengers' terror as train hits landslip and comes off tracks

Trapped: passengers were stuck on the train for three hours and were plunged into darkness when the emergency generator failed
James Woolford
Tom Powell16 September 2016

Commuters told of the terrifying moment a train bound for London Euston derailed after hitting a landslip triggered by torrential downpours.

Passengers on board the 6.19am service from Milton Keynes to London Euston were shocked when they suddenly felt a “massive jolt” as the train came off the track near Watford Junction.

It then received a "glancing blow" from an oncoming train and blocked off the tracks before causing travel chaos.

The approximately 400 passengers were stuck on the train for three hours, and were even plunged into pitch black darkness when the emergency generator failed.

Consultant James Woolford, 32, who was in the front carriage, told the Standard: “Just before we went under the bridge there was a massive jolt, then rocks, stones and mud started hitting the window.

Trapped: passengers described a "massive jolt" as the second train hit
Ian Saunders

“It was quite scary, everyone was looking at each other and then there was a second massive jolt.”

The first jolt is believed to have been the driver’s frantic braking as he was unable to prevent the train hitting the landslip and derailing. The second was when a train heading in the opposite direction clipped it.

Two passengers were injured in the incident, with one man treated for a neck injury and one woman for chest pains.

Mr Woolford described the atmosphere trapped on the train as surprisingly “relaxed”.

“Everyone was chatting and getting along, there was no reason to be scared or worried at that point as we were talking to the emergency services through the windows,” he said.

Radio reporter Sarah Lowther, who was on the derailed train, said passengers had been helping each other to safety.

She added that there was a pregnant woman was on board who emergency services were trying to remove from the train.

Another passenger, Jake Steers told the Mirror his relief that they were inside the tunnel at the time - or 'there would have been casualties'.

He said: "We were going through the tunnel, when the first carriage derailed and it all shuddered and the train shook violently.

Twitter user Benedict Jnr tweeted: “My view for the past 2 & a half hours” with a photo of the inside of the train.

The passengers were eventually led out of the train and onto another using a ramp, with the whole experience lasting four hours.

A video shot by Mr Woolford (above) shows the rescue train pulling past the landslide as they finally move away from the tunnel.

A Network Rail spokesman said that a "small portion of the train became derailed but remained upright" after it "struck a landslip" following storms overnight.

He said: "Shortly before 7am a train heading south to London hit a landslip, caused by torrential rain, at the north end of the Watford Tunnel.

London weather: Flash flooding and thunderstorms

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"This caused the train's wheels to leave the tracks. A short time after this another train heading north had a glancing blow with the derailed train.

"The train heading north did not leave the tracks.”

London Midlands is advising customers to avoid travel between London Euston and Milton Keynes, with delays of up to an hour while repairs are carried out.

There may also be changes to the weekend timetable to allow repairs on the track.

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