Rail chaos for Glastonbury revellers after person dies on tracks - sparking mass cancellations and delays from London Paddington station
Glastonbury Festival revellers travelling to Somerset endured travel chaos out of London Paddington today after all lines were blocked due to a fatality on the track.
The person died at West Ealing in West London, resulting in mass cancellations on Elizabeth line, Great Western Railway and Heathrow Express services.
Those travelling to Glastonbury use Paddington to get to Castle Cary station, while commuters heading into the capital to work were also affected by the disruption.
There was no Elizabeth line service between Paddington and Reading or Heathrow Airport, and cancellations or delays of up to one hour were expected until 1pm.
An initial National Rail travel update said the delays were because a person had been 'hit by a train', but MailOnline has since established that this was not the case.
And a witness in West Ealing told MailOnline that a footbridge over the line known locally as 'Jacob's Ladder' had been shut by police while they investigate.
British Transport Police later confirmed that its officers were called to the scene at about 7.30am today following 'reports of a casualty on the tracks'. The force said paramedics also attended, but 'sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene'.
Glastonbury revellers at London Paddington station today wait for the next train to Castle Cary
Revellers wait in a holding area at London Paddington today as they travel to Castle Cary
Glastonbury revellers at London Paddington station today wait for the next train to Castle Cary
Dozens of people sat on the floor at Paddington near the boarding area for Castle Cary services, with the 8.38am departure to the station among the cancelled trains.
Hannah Yates, 28, from north London, who was booked on a train with four friends,said: 'I went up to (a member of staff) and they said there's been a fatality on the line and to wait for 45 minutes, so we're waiting for the next announcement.
'It's frustrating, I would say. This was a day that's already quite stressful so this adds to it.'
Another festivalgoer, who gave their name as Zac, said: 'We took the Elizabeth line here and they had cancelled the Elizabeth line to Heathrow so we had a suspicion.
'We're still looking forward to it - a couple of hours won't make a difference to the whole weekend.'
London Paddington is busy this morning with revellers waiting for the next train to Castle Cary
Glastonbury revellers at London Paddington station today wait for the next train to Castle Cary
Revellers wait in a holding area at London Paddington today as they travel to Castle Cary
Ian Mansfield, who runs the popular culture and transport website IanVisits, tweeted: 'Major delays on the Elizabeth line due to a fatality on the tracks outside Paddington.
'With just one train passing through Woolwich, it was a bit Last Flight Out Of Saigon on the platform when the train pulled in.'
Another commuter said on X: 'Stuck at Maidenhead, all trains from Maidenhead to Reading cancelled until noon at the moment due to an incident at West Ealing.'
And passenger Filippo Spiga said he heard an announcement saying: 'No trains leaving London Paddington, all passengers should return to the concourse.'
A British Transport Police spokesman told MailOnline: 'Officers were called to the line near West Ealing at around 7.30am today following reports of a casualty on the tracks.
A police officer blocking off a bridge over the railway line at West Ealing in West London today
One commuter tweeted that they were stuck at Maidenhead station in Berkshire this morning
Great Western Railway trains across all routes were affected, including to Didcot and Oxford
A travel update on the National Rail website today said a person had been 'hit by a train'
'Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.'
GWR trains across all routes were affected, including to Didcot, Oxford, Hereford, Cheltenham, Worcester, Cardiff, Swansea, Bedwyn, Bristol, Taunton, Plymouth, Paignton and Newquay and Penzance – as well as the West Ealing to Greenford line.
Those affected by the Elizabeth line delays were instead advised to use the Docklands Light Railway, Underground or London buses via a reasonable route.
Passengers were also told to use Southeastern trains between Abbey Wood and London terminals, or South Western Railway between London Waterloo and Reading and Thameslink between Abbey Wood and Farringdon.
GWR had ticket acceptance with CrossCountry, Chiltern Railways between Marylebone and Oxford and South Western Railway between London Waterloo and Reading, Windsor and Eton Riverside and Basingstoke.
Revellers queue to board a train at London Paddington yesterday for the Glastonbury Festival
Revellers queue to board a train at London Paddington yesterday for the Glastonbury Festival
Tickets were also being accepted on Stagecoach buses between Swindon and Trowbridge, Cheltenham, Chippenham and Oxford.
A Network Rail spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'Train services in and out of London Paddington were disrupted this morning while the emergency services dealt with an incident in the West Ealing area.
'All lines have now reopened, however there will be further disruption as we work to recover the service. Trains may be cancelled, delayed, or revised.
'Passengers are advised to check with their train operator or National Rail Enquiries before travelling.'
It comes as thousands of fans are now arriving at Glastonbury after it officially began yesterday, although the main stages at Worthy Farm will not open until tomorrow.
Pop singer Dua Lipa will be headlining the Pyramid Stage tomorrow before rock band Coldplay and soul singer SZA play the famous stage on Saturday and Sunday.
Revellers arrive at Castle Cary train station yesterday as they make their way off the platform and onto the busses that will shuttle them to Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset
Revellers arrive at Castle Cary train station yesterday as they make their way off the platform and onto the busses that will shuttle them to Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset
Canadian country star Shania Twain will play the coveted Legends slot on Sunday afternoon.
Hundreds of musicians will also perform today with various smaller stages across the site hosting acts including singer and DJ Shygirl and electronic musician Joy Orbison, who will both appear at dance stage Levels.
GWR said earlier this month that it planned to provide more than 28,600 seats on trains from Paddington to Castle Cary between yesterday and tomorrow for festivalgoers.
It warned that early and mid-morning trains today were almost fully booked.
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