Major London Euston train delays after overhead wires issue

Passengers had to be escorted off the stranded train from around 8.50am after 25,000-volt cables that power trains came down.

It happened just outside London Euston with railway engineers and firefighters called to the scene.

NEW: All lines blocked after person hit by train at Watford Junction

Work is ongoing to fix the damage and as of 12.30pm platforms 1-7 were unavailable, Network Rail said.

Meanwhile, a person has also been hit by a train further up the line in the Watford Junction area, leaving all lines blocked.

Overhead wires caught by the train outside Euston (Image: Network Rail)

Disruption from both incidents is expected to last throughout the afternoon and into the evening rush hour - with delays of aorund 90 minutes and services cancelled.

Operators affected include Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern, Southern and London Overground.

National Rail says: "Multiple incidents on the route between Watford Junction and London Euston means that there is major disruption to journeys to and from London Euston today."

No Overground services are currently running between Watford Juction and Euston, according to National Rail.

National Rail is also warning that Avanti West Coast services may start and terminate at Milton Keynes Central.

London Northwestern, which is the main local line into London from the Watford area, warned it expects some of its trains to be affected by the incident at Euston - it's services have since been more severely impacted by the incident in Watford.

Overhead wires caught by the train outside Euston (Image: Network Rail)

Commenting on the issue at Euston, James Dean, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said: “I’m sorry to passengers impacted by the overhead lines coming down outside Euston station and the major disruption to journeys this is causing.

“Our team of engineers is working hard to fix the wires and restore power so we can get a full service back up and running as soon as possible. But when wires are damaged like this it can mean a complex and lengthy repair.

"For that reason I’d urge people to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before they set off on their journey as unfortunately disruption is expected all day.”

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