This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is confirmed.
A person has died after being found on the tracks at South Ruislip station, British Transport Police have confirmed, bringing a tragic conclusion to the casualty-on-the-tracks incident that shut down part of the Central line on Tuesday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the west London station at 3.04pm on 29 September following reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics attended alongside police officers, but the person was pronounced dead at the scene.
A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “We were called to South Ruislip station at 3.04pm on 29 September to reports of a casualty on the tracks.
“Paramedics also attended, and 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.”
No details have been released about the identity of the person who died. British Transport Police, the national force responsible for policing Britain’s railways, led the response at the scene, and a coroner’s file means an inquest is expected to be opened in due course.
London Streets has been following the disruption throughout the day — read our Central line live blog for continuing coverage.
Central line part-suspended as emergency crews respond
Trains were halted between Northolt and West Ruislip while emergency crews worked at the scene, cutting off the western end of the line during a busy afternoon travel period.
South Ruislip sits on the western edge of the capital in the London Borough of Hillingdon and is served by both the Central line and Chiltern Railways, making it a key interchange for commuters travelling between outer west London and the city. The station is the penultimate stop on the Central line’s West Ruislip branch.
Transport for London advised passengers to use London Buses to complete their journeys while the closure was in place, with minor delays also reported across the rest of the Central line as services bunched up behind the suspension.
The suspension was lifted later in the afternoon, but passengers were warned to expect residual delays into the evening peak as timetables recovered.
Advice for commuters heading home
Anyone travelling in west London this evening is urged to check before they travel and allow extra time, with knock-on delays still possible on the western end of the Central line.
- Check before you travel: TfL’s live status page and Journey Planner will show the latest picture on the Central line, including any remaining minor delays.
- Consider London Buses: TfL advised passengers to use buses while the suspension was in place, and several routes serve South Ruislip, Northolt, Ruislip Gardens and the surrounding area.
- Chiltern Railways alternative: National Rail services also call at South Ruislip, offering a rail alternative for journeys towards central London.
- Allow extra time: Even after a suspension is lifted, it can take a while for frequencies to return to normal, particularly heading into the evening rush.
Day of disruption across the Tube
The tragedy at South Ruislip came on an already difficult day for the Underground. The Victoria line suffered severe delays after infrastructure damage at Brixton station, while the Northern line also reported minor delays caused by separate train cancellations.
It means commuters across the capital have faced disruption on three Tube lines in a single day, with the western end of the Central line, the Victoria line and parts of the Northern line all affected at various points.
Separately, Transport for London has this week switched on a year-long pilot that could see cleaning at Tube and bus stations brought in-house, as the transport body examines the future of how its stations are run.
Developing story
This is a developing story and this article will be updated as further information is confirmed.
Anyone who has been affected by this incident can contact Samaritans free at any time on 116 123.
