Freight train comes off the tracks near Barking as east London rail services grind to a halt
A freight train has derailed near Barking in east London, throwing evening rail services into chaos and prompting warnings that disruption will last until at least the end of the day.
The derailment happened between Woodgrange Park and Barking, and engineers have been sent to the scene to work on clearing the line. With the wagons still being dealt with, passengers are being told to expect a difficult evening.
London Overground says no trains are running between South Tottenham and Barking Riverside. That section covers the Suffragette line, which serves some of east London’s busiest commuter corridors, including stations through Leyton, Walthamstow and Barking.
Services run by c2c between Barking and Grays are also disrupted, with cancellations, revised services and delays being reported. The operator is advising passengers to check before they travel and to allow extra time for their journeys.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added to the live blog above as they arrive.
What is happening
The freight train came off the rails near Barking, and the section between Woodgrange Park and Barking is currently blocked. Disruption is expected to continue until at least the end of the day as engineers work to recover the derailed wagons and repair any damage to the track.
Freight derailments can be particularly tricky to clear. Unlike a passenger train, a freight consist can involve heavy wagons loaded with cargo, and the recovery often requires specialist equipment to be brought to the site. Until the line is declared safe, no services can pass through.
Rail-recovery work usually follows a set sequence: the scene is made safe, specialist lifting equipment is positioned, the derailed wagons are rerailed or removed, and the track is inspected for damage before the line can be handed back to operators. Each of those stages can take hours, which is why disruption often stretches well into the evening even after the initial incident is contained.
At this stage, the cause of the derailment has not been confirmed, and there has been no word on whether anyone was hurt. Those details are still unknown, and we will update this page if they are confirmed.
What services are affected
Passengers face a triple hit across east London this evening:
- London Overground (Suffragette line): no trains between South Tottenham and Barking Riverside.
- c2c: services between Barking and Grays disrupted, with cancellations, revised services and delays.
- Knock-on effects: disruption is expected to last until at least the end of the day, so evening and late-night services may also be affected.
What passengers can do
Passengers are advised to check journey planners before setting out and to allow much more time than usual. Alternative routes include other London Overground lines, the Jubilee and District lines, and local bus services through east London.
If your journey is delayed or cancelled, keep hold of your tickets — you may be able to claim compensation through the operator’s Delay Repay scheme.
The derailment comes on a day when London’s rail network has already been under severe strain. Earlier on Friday, a fallen tree at Ladywell disrupted Southeastern services between London Bridge and Hayes, with delays of up to 50 minutes on that live blog. And Friday’s evening rush hour brought severe delays on the Northern line and suspensions on sections of the Overground and Tramlink, adding to the misery for commuters.
Storm Austen has also battered the capital through the day, with our live coverage tracking the storm’s impact on travel. High winds can bring trees down onto railway lines, though the cause of this derailment has not been confirmed.
We will continue to update the live blog above as engineers report back from the scene and as operators confirm when services can resume.
