London travel news LIVE: Chaos hits Elizabeth line before Monday afternoon rush hour because of trespasser

 (Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)
(Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)

Part of the Elizabeth line is suspended while the rest of the line is severely delayed.

As of 3.30pm on Monday, there was no service between Paddington and Reading/Heathrow Terminals.

This is because of a trespasser on the track at in the Ealing Broadway area.

It comes as motorists are facing serious delays on key routes around London after the M3 was shut following a crash involving a road sweeper and a serious collision closed a huge section of the M2.

Around eight miles of the motorway in Surrey were closed for over an hour due to the overturned vehicle, which also caused a large diesel spillage.

The road was shut southbound from Junction 2 (M25 interchange) to J3 A322 (Lightwater) at around 12.20pm, bringing all traffic to a standstill.

Trapped traffic is being allowed to pass through one lane by the scene and three lanes remain closed.Meanwhile a “serious collision” closed a huge section of the M2 in Kent into London but this has since cleared up.

Follow latest updates below.

Key Points

Minor delays on Northern Line

18:48 , Josh Salisbury

There are currently minor delays between Camden Town and High Barnet on the Northern Line due to a shortage of trains.

However, TfL says there is a good service on the rest of the line.

Dover warns of delays over Easter

17:07 , Robert Dex

Holidaymakers preparing to embark on Easter getaways from the Port of Dover are being warned they may face delays due to tighter security checks following the Moscow concert attack.

The Kent port issued the alert as French authorities stepped up border monitoring.

Around 20,000 cars are expected to travel through the port between Thursday and Easter Monday.

Heathrow Express also facing delays

16:06 , Robert Dex

The trespasser that is causing problems on the Elizabeth Line is also affecting the Heathrow Express.

The service said trains were being delayed by up to 15 minutes or in some cases being cancelled “due to an earlier trespasser on the railway”.

District Line delays

15:57 , Robert Dex

Commuters also face minor delays on the District Line between Tower Hill and Upminster due to an earlier faulty train at Becontree.

There is a good service on the rest of the line.

Minor delays to Elizabeth line as well

15:05 , Jordan King

There is currently no service Paddington and Reading / Heathrow Terminals while we deal with trespasser on the track at in the Ealing Broadway area.

There are also severe delays Abbey Wood and Paddington.

While a good service was running on the rest of the Elizabeth line, this part of the line is now facing minor delays.

Three of four lanes closed on M3 westbound

14:28 , Jordan King

There are long delays on the M3, between J2 and J3, as three of four lanes are closed while an overturned vehicle is being recovered.

Elizabeth line part suspended and severely delayed

14:16 , Jordan King

There is currently no service Paddington and Reading / Heathrow Terminals while we deal with trespasser on the track at in the Ealing Broadway area.

There are also severe delays Abbey Wood and Paddington.

M3 shut due to a rolled over truck

13:41 , Jacob Phillips

The M3 has been forced to shut due to a rolled over truck.

The flipped vehicle has also created a spillage across the key route.

Travel data site Inrix has warned there is stationary traffic due to the incident on the M3 Southbound from Junction 2 (M25 interchange) to Junction 3 A322 (Lightwater / Bagshot).

The road was shut at 12.20pm and trapped traffic is being allowed to pass the scene.

Minor delays to Hammersmith & City line

13:25 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays due to train cancellations.

Metropolitan line no longer delayed

13:18 , Jordan King

The Metropolitan line has returned to running a good service.

DLR part suspended

12:28 , Jordan King

There is currently no service between Woolwich Arsenal and King George V while TfL responds to a fire alert at Woolwich Arsenal - good service on the rest of the line.

Minor delays to Metropolitan line

12:13 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge due to an earlier signal failure at Hillingdon - good service on the rest of the line.

One person airlifted to hospital after M2 crash

10:56 , Jordan King

Kent Police told The Standard that one person had to be airlifted to hospital after the “serious collision” which took place on the M2.

Good service on all Tube lines

10:02 , Jordan King

TfL is reporting good service on all Tube lines.

Victoria line no longer delayed

10:02 , Jordan King

The Victoria line has returned to running a good service.

Bakerloo line no longer delayed

10:01 , Jordan King

The Bakerloo line has returned to running a good service.

Cantral line no longer delayed

10:01 , Jordan King

The Central line has returned to running a good service.

Collision on M2 from Kent into London

09:45 , Jordan King

The M2 in Kent is closed westbound between J6 (Faversham) and J5 (Sittingbourne) because of a “serious collision”.

Kent Police, Kent Fire & Rescue, South East Coast Ambulance Service and an Air Ambulance Charity Kent, Surrey, Sussex helicopter are attending.

Traffic is being diverted.

National Highways has issued the following advice to drivers:

  • Exit the M2 westbound at J6 and join the A251 southbound towards the A252 in Challock

  • At the roundabout with the A252, join the A252 and continue westbound towards Charing and the roundabout with the A20

  • At the roundabout, turn right and join the A20 westbound towards Maidstone and J8 of the M20

  • Join the M20 and travel westbound towards J7

  • Exit at J7 and then join the A249 towards the M2 J5

  • Re-join the M2 westbound at J5

Severe delays to Victoria line

09:04 , Jordan King

There are currently severe delays due to an earlier customer incident at Warren Street.

Minor delays to Central line

08:42 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays between Leytonstone and Epping while TfL fixes a signal failure at Debden - good service on the rest of the line

All M4 lanes reopen

08:37 , Jordan King

The M4 was shut for police investigation work this morning.

All lanes have now re-opened but delays still remain.

Minor delays to Bakerloo line

08:27 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays between Queens Park and Harrow & Wealdstone due to an earlier signal failure at Willesden Junction - good service on the rest of the line.

Part of the M4 re-opens

08:00 , Jordan King

The M4 eastbound, at J3, has been shut for most of this morning, with investigation work taking place.

Most of the road has now been re-opened, with one lane still closed between J4 and J3.

Drivers should still expect delays of around 20 minutes, with congestion of about three miles.

Metropolitan line no longer delayed

07:29 , Jordan King

The Metropolitan line has returned to running a good service.

Four people treated for injuries after Hoe Street accident

07:25 , Jordan King

Four people were treated for injuries after a collision between two cars last night, on Hoe Street.

The Metropolitan Police told The Standard: “We were called at 7.13pm on Sunday, March 24, to reports of a collision involving two cars in Hoe Street, Walthamstow.

“Officers responded with other emergency services. Four people have been treated for injuries. We await an update on their injuries.

“Road closures are in place.”

Nine bus routes on diversion because of Hoe Street accident

07:22 , Jordan King

We have already told you about how an accident took place on Hoe Street, between Orford Road and Boundary Road, in Walthamstow, leaving Hoe Street blocked.

This means nine different bus routes are on diversion this morning.

A-road in Walthamstow blocked both ways

07:21 , Jordan King

Hoe Street has to be shut last night, after a “serious accident” took place between Orford Road and Boundary Road, reported at 7.13pm.

The road is still blocked while investigations take place, traffic-monitoring site Inrix reports.

Motorists face double normal journey time as 14 million Easter getaways planned

07:09 , Jordan King

More than 14 million Easter getaway trips are expected to take place with drivers being warning that journeys could take twice as long as normal.

The RAC warned of an inevitable traffic surge ahead of the bank holiday weekend, which coincides with the start of a two-week holiday for many schools.

Rail travel will also be disrupted as Network Rail carries out engineering work, with the southern section of the West Coast Main Line closed between Good Friday and Easter Monday.Read more here.

Drivers are being warned over long delays as more than 14 million Easter getaway trips are expected to take place (Alamy/PA)
Drivers are being warned over long delays as more than 14 million Easter getaway trips are expected to take place (Alamy/PA)

Serious delays on A-road in north London

06:56 , Jordan King

Emergency Thames Water works are taking place on the A406 Pinkham Way (westbound) at the junction of A109 Bounds Green Road, the BP petrol station.

Two out of three lanes are closed, meaning traffic is slow-moving if you’re approaching westbound.

Minor delays to Metropolitan line

06:52 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Watford due to train cancellations - good service on the rest of the line.

M4 congestion backed up to J4 (Heathro/Uxbridge)

06:50 , Jordan King

We’ve already told you about how a road is closed on the M4 (at J3) because of an incident reported recently.

Traffic-monitoring site Inrix has reported that the congestion this has caused is backed up to J4 (heathrow/Uxbridge).

M4 eastbound closed at J3

06:43 , Jordan King

The road is closed within junction three (Harrow, Hounslow, Heathrow Airport) while the police carry out investigation work.

It is expected to stay shut until 9am with a diversion on and off.

The delay-time is currently 30 minutes.

Good morning!

06:38 , Jordan King

Good morning and welcome to The Evening Standard’s live travel blog.

Stay with us for up-to-date information for getting around the capital throughout the day.