Heathrow travel chaos erupts as airport line hit with severe delays and trains cancelled after incident on track

Emergency services were called to the Elizabeth Line train tracks near Hanwell this morning following a casualty on the line.

Shortly after 6am, passengers on the rail service were halted and informed of the incident, causing major disruption across the network.

All lines between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals, as well as services to Reading, are facing severe delays after previously being closed.

National Rail is also advising passengers that the disruptions to their service could continue until at least 12pm.

National Rail’s website currently states: “The emergency services are currently dealing with an incident between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals / Reading.

“So that they can safely carry out their work, some lines have been closed. Trains operating between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised as a result.

“Major disruption is expected until 12:00.”

South Western Railway said in a statement on X: “A speed restriction over defective track is affecting the railway between Weybridge and Surbiton.

“Trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised because of this problem.”

Transport for London has confirmed that tickets are being accepted on London Underground, London Buses, Southwestern, Thameslink, DLR, South Western Railways, Great Western Railway and Chiltern Railway services.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “We were called to Hanwell railway station at 6.16am today (27 October) to reports of a casualty on the tracks.

“Officers attended alongside paramedics but sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

“This incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A spokesman for London Ambulance Service said in a statement: “We were called at 6.18am today (27 October) to reports of a person hit by a train at Hanwell Railway Station, W7.

“We sent an ambulance crew, a paramedic in fast response car, an incident response officer and paramedics from our Hazardous Area Response Team. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance.

“Sadly a person died at the scene.”

Several other TfL lines including the Central Line, DLR, Northern Line and Suffragette Line are experiencing issues.

Tram services are also facing a part closure at East Croydon.