Tragedy near Wantage shuts down vital rail link to London Paddington
Person dies after being found on railway tracks
A person was sadly pronounced dead this morning after being discovered on the railway tracks near Wantage just before 8:30am on September 17. Emergency services raced to the scene, but paramedics were unable to save the individual.
Major disruption on Swindon-Didcot line
British Transport Police confirmed the death is not suspicious and a coroner’s file will be prepared. The incident forced a full closure of lines between Swindon and Didcot Parkway, choking key routes for commuters.
Delays of up to 90 minutes expected
Though the tracks have now reopened, National Rail warns passengers to expect delays of up to an hour and a half on services between London Paddington and important hubs including Penzance, Bristol Temple Meads, and Cardiff Central. The chaos is expected to continue until 3pm.
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A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called to the line near Wantage at around 8:28am today following reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics also attended, however sadly the person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
