District line: Severe delays due to trespasser at South Kensington, Overground and Piccadilly also part-closed

Passengers are being warned of severe delays along the District line due to a trespasser on the track.

Transport for London (TfL) is reporting the delays along the whole of the line as a result of the incident at South Kensington. Tickets are being accepted on London buses, the DLR and London Overground.

Train cancellations also mean there is no service between High Street Kensington and Kensington (Olympia).

Several part-closures are further impacting the network today. The Piccadilly line is reporting no service between Acton Town and Heathrow, and the London Overground is not running between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on the London Underground are due to walk out later this week, on October 4 and 6, as part of an ongoing dispute over safety concerns.

Most services are expected to be impacted and will not run on strike days.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Station staff have had enough of having their livelihoods threatened by job losses and attacks on their terms and conditions.

“Station staff have a vital role to play assisting vulnerable passengers access the network safely and ensuring that the tube is a safe environment for passengers.

“These job cuts and attacks on conditions are going to lead to more unstaffed stations, temporary closures and rising passenger anger.

“TfL has had its budgets slashed but the savings made by these station staff cuts will be negatable and will lead to shortages that are unacceptable.

“This strike action will lead to the tube being shutdown and we call on mayor Sadiq Khan to meet us urgently to discuss this matter.”

Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “We are disappointed that the RMT has announced strike action despite our open discussion on these issues. Nobody wants to see strikes that will cause significant disruption to our customers and we urge them to reconsider and continue engaging with us.”

ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) members meanwhile walked out yesterday (September 30) over pay, with another planned for Wednesday October 4.

An overtime ban will also be in place across the UK rail network from October 2-6 (Monday to Friday), affecting 16 train companies including Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways and c2c.