Tragedy Strikes: Person Killed on Tracks Near London Paddington
Rail chaos hit London’s Paddington station after a person was fatally struck by a train near Iver station in Buckinghamshire early Thursday morning. British Transport Police were alerted at 7:15 am, sparking a multi-hour shutdown on key routes.
Lines Shut Between Paddington and Reading
All lines between London Paddington and Reading were closed, causing major disruption for Great Western Railway (GWR), the Elizabeth Line, and Heathrow Express services. By 10 am, some lines reopened but commuters faced lingering delays and cancellations. Paddington, the UK’s second busiest rail hub, was at the heart of the chaos.
Police Confirm No Suspicious Circumstances
“Officers were called to the line near Iver railway station at around 7:15 am following reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics attended but sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene. This is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner,” a British Transport Police spokesman said.
GWR Expresses Condolences, Warns of Ongoing Delays
GWR offered condolences and outlined the disruption ahead. “It is with great sadness we confirm a person has been struck by a train. Some lines have reopened, but full service restoration will take time,” GWR said. They warned trains may be diverted and held further down the line to manage congestion.
Disruptions were expected to last until 11 am, with GWR stating, “It was necessary to bring all trains in the affected area to an immediate stop.”
Paddington’s Troubles Continue
The fatal incident compounds recent problems at Paddington station, which had been closed for four days of engineering works and faced several infrastructure faults in recent weeks.