London travel news LIVE: Police investigation closes Hainault station; Six mile queues on M26

Hainault station has been shut by police after multiple people, including two police officers, were attacked.

Footage on social media shows someone wielding a samarai sword in the area, before police said a 36-year-old man was arrested.

Meanwhile, there are major delays on the M26 into London on due to emergency repairs.

Six-mile queues were reported on the M26 Westbound at the M25 due to a lane closure, traffic monitoring service Inrix said.

The repairs were also causing delays on the M25 in both directions between J5 for Sevenoaks and the Clacket Lane Services.

There are also minor delays on the Circle and Northern Lines due to train shortages and cancellations.

While hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport are on the second day of their four-day strike.There is a warning passengers could face longer queues as more than 300 members of the Public and Commercial Services union continue their walkout, affecting Heathrow terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, in a dispute over working conditions.

For the latest updates please scroll down.

South Western commuter route hit by signal failure

Tuesday 30 April 2024 13:31 , Josh Salisbury

South Western Railway routes between Waterloo and Shepperton are disrupted due to a signalling fault.

Train services running to and from these stations will be suspended between Shepperton and Fulwell.

Disruption is expected until 6pm, says National Rail.

Crash on M25

Tuesday 30 April 2024 10:56 , Jordan King

There is currently queueing traffic due to traffic signal failure on A12 both ways at the M25 J28 (Brentwood/Brook Street Roundabout).

Congestion to M25, five miles anticlockwise back past J29 Romford, and a couple of miles on the A12 Brentwood Bypass.

Thameslink routes affected by earlier points failure at New Barnet:

Tuesday 30 April 2024 10:24 , Jordan King

Brighton to Cambridge and Horsham to Peterborough.

Great Northern routes affected by earlier points failure at New Barnet:

Tuesday 30 April 2024 10:24 , Jordan King

Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and London Kings Cross to Cambridge / Ely / Kings Lynn.

Disruption to Kings Cross trains

Tuesday 30 April 2024 10:23 , Jordan King

Two train lines which go between Stevenage and London Kings Cross are disrupted because of an earlier points failure at New Barnet. The following routes are affected:

  • Great Northern between Peterborough / Kings Lynn and London Kings Cross, and also between Welwyn Garden City and Moorgate

  • Thameslink between Cambridge and Brighton, between Peterborough and Horsham, and also between Welwyn Garden City and Sevenoaks

Lines have reopened but may still be cancelled or delayed by up to 10 minutes.

This disruption is expected to last until at least 11am.

Elizabeth line no longer delayed

Tuesday 30 April 2024 10:16 , Jordan King

The Elizabeth line has reutrned to running a good service.

British Transport Police on Hainault closure:

Tuesday 30 April 2024 09:52 , Jordan King

The British Transport Police said: "Officers were called to the area near Hainault underground station at 7.07am today (30 April) to assist Metropolitan Police.

“Officers are currently in attendance. The station is closed and a cordon is in place."

The Standard is looking into what impact this violence will have on transport today.

What have police said about the Hainault incident?

Tuesday 30 April 2024 09:51 , Jordan King

Police have released a full statement on the incident which closed Hainault station:

Minor delays to Elizabeth line

Tuesday 30 April 2024 09:44 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays between Paddington and Heathrow due to an earlier person ill on a train at Whitechapel - good service on the rest of the line.

'Multiple stabbings with samurai sword' at Hainault

Tuesday 30 April 2024 09:42 , Jordan King

There are unconfirmed reports of multiple stabbings and footage at the scene appearing to show a man with a samurai sword.

A large police presence was seen outside Hainault tube station.

Labour MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting said a “critical incident” has been declared following the incident asking for people not to speculate or post footage on social media “until details are confirmed.”

Read more here.

Social media footage shows this man on the scene (X/@ell_pht)
Social media footage shows this man on the scene (X/@ell_pht)

Man arrested after incident at Hainault station

Tuesday 30 April 2024 09:10 , Jordan King

Redbridge Police have confirmed that a man has been arrested in the Hainault area.

'Critical incident' in Hainault

Tuesday 30 April 2024 09:02 , Jordan King

A “critical incident” has been declared in Hainault, Labour MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting has said.

He did not reveal any more details, except to say that one man has been detained.

Mr Streeting also asked people not to speculate or post footage on social media “until details are confirmed”.

Northern line no longer severely delayed

Tuesday 30 April 2024 08:57 , Jordan King

The Northern line was severely delayed between Kennington and Morden due to an earlier faulty train at Clapham South.

This is no longer the case, but there are still minor delays across the whole line because of a shortage of trains.

Circle line no longer delayed

Tuesday 30 April 2024 08:56 , Jordan King

The Circle line has returned to running a good service.

Severe delays to Northern line

Tuesday 30 April 2024 08:35 , Jordan King

There are currently severe delays between Kennington and Morden due to an earlier faulty train at Clapham South.

This is on top of the minor delays to the rest of the line that we told you about earlier - due to a shortage of trains.

In video: Hainault station closed

Tuesday 30 April 2024 08:33 , Jordan King

Hainault station closed for police investigation

Tuesday 30 April 2024 07:53 , Jordan King

Hainault station is shut for a police investigation in the area.

The Standard has contacted the police for more information.

Trains to and from Alexandra Palace delayed

Tuesday 30 April 2024 07:38 , Jordan King

There is currently disruption to Great Northern and Thameslink trains which run between Potters Bar and Alexandra Palace.

This is because of a points failure at New Barnet, meaning some lines are blocked.

These delays are expected until at least 8.30am.

Minor delays to Northern line

Tuesday 30 April 2024 07:32 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays due to a shortage of trains.

Minor delays to Circle line

Tuesday 30 April 2024 07:32 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays due to train cancellations.

Heavy traffic on another part of M25

Tuesday 30 April 2024 07:31 , Jordan King

There is heavy traffic on M25 clockwise from the QE2 Bridge to J3 M20/ A20 (Swanley Interchange).

Traffic queuing for six miles

Tuesday 30 April 2024 07:30 , Jordan King

Cars are backed up for six miles on M26 Westbound at the M25 - one lane is closed.

Lond delays on M25 and M26

Tuesday 30 April 2024 07:29 , Jordan King

There are long tailbacks with one lane closed both ways on the M25 between J5 M26/A21 (Sevenoaks) and Clacket Lane Services.

There is also congestion to J4 Orpington clockwise, and back down the M26.

This is because of emergency reparis on the M25.

Good morning

Tuesday 30 April 2024 07:19 , Jordan King

Good morning and welcome to The Evening Standard’s live travel blog.

Stay with us for updates on getting around the capital and its surrounding areas throughou the day.