London transport live: 90-minute delays on M25 near Dartford after serious collision

Traffic was stopped on the M25 clockwise between J2 (Dartford) and J3 (Swanley) due to a serious collision on Friday afternoon, causing eight miles of tailbacks.

Traffic officers and emergency services were on scene, National Highways said, with 90-minute delays reported near the Kent passage.

It comes before the motorway - which is Britain’s busiest - will be closed in both directions between junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey from 9pm on Friday until 6am on Monday while concrete beams for a new bridge are installed.

The RAC has advised drivers on the route, especially those going on days out to attractions such as Chessington World of Adventures, that they should take extra food and drinks on their journey.

Diversion routes will take cars on a 19-mile journey on A roads, crossing from Surrey into London’s Ulez area, though National Highways has assured drivers “no enforcement action will be taken”.

But the highways authority said anyone who ignores official diversion signs in an attempt to find shorter alternative routes will be liable for the £12.50 daily Ulez fee if their vehicle does not meet minimum emissions standards.

Train companies have warned of amended timetables due to the overtime ban being observed by Aslef drivers.

Southern, Thameslink & Great Northern are aong the services affected, with the Gatwick Express not operating at all.

Meanwhile, the Overground and District Tube lines were part suspended on Friday afternoon. Scroll down for the latest travel updates across London’s travel network.

Live coverage ends

Friday 10 May 2024 21:35 , Jacob Phillips

The Evening Standard’s travel live blog has ended.

Read the latest transport stories from the Standard here.

Minor delays on the Northern Line

Friday 10 May 2024 18:19 , Jacob Phillips

There are currently minor delays on the Northern Line due to a shortage of trains.

90 minute delays on the M25 after serious collision

Friday 10 May 2024 16:53 , Jacob Phillips

All lanes have been reopened on the M25 clockwise between Dartford and Swanley after a serious collision.National Highways has warned there are delays of 90 minutes above normal journey time following this incident with 8-miles of congestion.

North Greenwich station fully re-opened

Friday 10 May 2024 16:29 , Will Mata

North Greenwich station is fully re-opened with eastbound trains now stopping.

The Tube had not been stopping at the station on the Jubilee line while staff responded to a “customer incident”.

Traffic stopped on M25 at Dartford

Friday 10 May 2024 16:09 , Will Mata

Traffic is stopped on the #M25 clockwise between J2 at Dartford and J3 at Swanley due to a serious collision, Traffic Highways has said.

Traffic Officers and emergency services are on scene.

There are three miles congestion causing 20 min delays above normal travel time.

All Tube lines and Overground now running

Friday 10 May 2024 16:01 , Will Mata

The District and Overground lines which had been partially suspended are now running, TfL has said.

There are now only minor delays on the Elizabeth and Northern lines.

The Tram remains part suspended.

London Overground no longer partially suspended

Friday 10 May 2024 14:52 , Will Mata

There are now severe delays between Gunnersbury and Richmond on the London Overground due to an earlier Network Rail signal failure at Richmond.

The section of line had previously been part suspended.

The rest of the Overground is operating a good service, Transport for London has said.

Full story: Croydon network part suspended after mystery debris causes tram damage

Friday 10 May 2024 13:43 , Will Mata

Several trams in Croydon have been taken out of service after debris on the track caused damage, Transport for London has said.

On Friday morning, a shortage of trams meant there was no service on the line between East Croydon and New Addington, Elmers End and Beckenham Junction.

The line was functioning on its other parts as of 7.40am.

William Mata has the full story here.

Part suspension on the London Overground

Friday 10 May 2024 13:31 , Will Mata

There is a part suspension on the London Overground on Friday afternoon.

Transport for London has reported there is no service between Gunnersbury and Richmond due to a Network Rail signal failure at Richmond.

All other Overground routes are running fine.

District line part suspended

Friday 10 May 2024 13:27 , Will Mata

On the District line, Transport for London has warned there is no service between Turnham Green and Richmond due to a Network Rail signal failure at Richmond.

London Buses and South Western Railway are accepting tickets.

There are also minor delays between Barking and Upminster eastbound only due to an earlier faulty train.

The rest of the line has a good service.

Now 'severe delays' on Bakerloo line

Friday 10 May 2024 13:23 , Will Mata

The Bakerloo line is no longer part suspended.

Instead, there are severe delays due to an earlier trespasser on the track at Queen's Park.

Tickets are being accepted on local buses and the Thameslink.

Bakerloo line part suspended

Friday 10 May 2024 12:33 , Sami Quadri

There is no service between Paddington and Harrow & Wealdstone due to a trespasser on the track at Queen's Park. The rest of the line has been hit with minor delays.

Minor delays on Elizabeth Line

Friday 10 May 2024 12:17 , Sami Quadri

Elizabeth Line travellers have been hit with minor delays between Hayes & Harlington and Reading due to a signal failure at Hayes & Harlington. However, there’s good service on the rest of the line.

DLR has minor delays

Friday 10 May 2024 11:46 , Will Mata

The Docklands Light Railway has minor delays between Stratford and Canary Wharf while TfL fixes a faulty train at Poplar.

There is a good service on the rest of the line.

Clapham South Station has reopened

Friday 10 May 2024 11:42 , Will Mata

Clapham South Station has reopened having been closed on Friday morning.

Transport for London confirmed the news at 11.15am.

RAC warn drivers to pack extra food if travelling on M25 this weekend

Friday 10 May 2024 11:22 , Will Mata

With closures to the M25 this weekend, the RAC has advised motorists to avoid travelling if possible and pack extra food and drink if they do.

Alice Simpson, RAC breakdown spokesperson, said: "As this next M25 weekend closure immediately follows major national rail strikes which could see many more people take to the roads, it could be up to six days of disrupted travel for London's drivers.

"The closures also coincide with the retrofitting of new emergency areas on all-lane-running stretches of the M25, meaning delays are likely between junctions 5 and 7 in Surrey and Kent and junctions 23-27 in Hertfordshire and Essex.

"With weekend temperatures reaching 25 degrees or even higher, it's likely that routes around the 23-mile diversion will be busy as people make the most of the fine weather and jump in the car for day trips.

"Anyone heading to Chessington World of Adventures, which is close to the official A3 diversion route, should expect delays and pack extra food and drink in the event they're on the road longer than expected.

"Holidaymakers heading to Gatwick or Heathrow should leave an hour earlier than usual and allow plenty of time for parking and security checks."

The M25 closure is the second of five planned weekend closures which come as part of a £317 million project to improve Junction 10.

Weekend warning with M25 closure and hot weather

Friday 10 May 2024 11:15 , Will Mata

Motorists have been warned of lengthy delays as parts of the M25 close over the weekend, which could see the hottest day of the year so far.

The motorway - which is Britain's busiest - will be closed in both directions between junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey from 9pm on Friday until 6am on Monday while concrete beams for a new bridge are installed.

Saturday is predicted to see temperatures rise as high as 26C in parts of south-east England, including around London, in what would be the hottest day of the year.

Diversion routes will take cars on a 19-mile journey on A roads, crossing from Surrey into London's Ulez area, though National Highways has assured drivers "no enforcement action will be taken".

But the highways authority said anyone who ignores official diversion signs in an attempt to find shorter alternative routes will be liable for the £12.50 daily Ulez fee if their vehicle does not meet minimum emissions standards.

Failure to pay the charge when required can result in a £180 fine, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.

Sadiq Khan welcomes reports Government could pay for £1bn Euston HS2 tunnel

Friday 10 May 2024 11:11 , Will Mata

Sadiq Khan has welcomed reports that the Government is expected to release over £1bn of taxpayer funds to pay for the HS2 tunnel to Euston.

The London mayor’s office said that the reported cash injection would represent “progress at last” in bringing the high-speed railway into central London, despite Rishi Sunak pledging last year that private developers would cover the tunnel’s costs.

Noah Vickers has the full story here.

Long queues on M25 to junction 29

Friday 10 May 2024 11:07 , Will Mata

All lanes have stopped on the M25 clockwise after J29 A127 (Romford / Basildon) and there is queueing traffic for four miles.

The tailbacks are due to earlier stalled lorry on M25 clockwise after J29 A127 (Romford / Basildon).

Heathrow strikes called off after new deal over outsourcing jobs

Friday 10 May 2024 10:31 , Will Mata

Planned strikes by hundreds of workers at Heathrow Airport have been called off after a new offer was made in a bid to resolve a dispute over the outsourcing of jobs.

Around 800 members of Unite were due to walk out on Thursday until next Monday but the action will not now go ahead and the workers, including security guards and passenger assistance staff, will be balloted on the offer.

John Dunne has the full story here.

M25 connecting road closed near Dartford after serious crash

Friday 10 May 2024 10:17 , Will Mata

A road is closed near Dartford in Kent after a “serious crash”.

Traffic is stationary after the collision involving three vehicles on the A2 into town from the M25 (Darenth Interchange) to A2018 Old Bexley Lane (Dartford Heath).

There is congestion to Ebbsfleet from the M25, and back to Dartford eastbound with onlookers.

Sources confirm that trapped traffic is beginning to be released from the rear. Detour in operation - via local routes.

The incident has not impacted the flow of traffic on the M25.

London set for hot weekend

Friday 10 May 2024 10:04 , Will Mata

Travel in and out of London could be impacted by some very sunny weather forecast for this weekend.

Friday will have highs of 25C, according to the Met Office, while the capital will be hotter than Nice this weekend with peaks of 26C.

The full weather update is here.

Minor delays on the Northern line

Friday 10 May 2024 09:43 , Will Mata

There are slight delays on the Tube on Friday morning, with specifically the Northern line feeling minor disruption.

Transport for London has said this is due to a shortage of trains.

The Underground network is otherwise running a good service.

Will there be train strikes this weekend?

Friday 10 May 2024 09:39 , Will Mata

As Lola Alao explains, there are no rail strikes this weekend but there is an overtime ban.

An overtime ban is a form of industrial action where workers refuse to work overtime hours to put pressure on their employers during labour disputes.

This can disrupt the normal operation of train services, particularly if overtime is relied upon to cover staffing shortages or to maintain regular service levels during peak times or emergencies.

This will last until Saturday, May 11.

Long queues still from M25, junction 25

Friday 10 May 2024 09:27 , Will Mata

A closed lane around junction 25 (Enfield / A10) continues to cause delays on the M25 anticlockwise to junction 26 (A121 Honey Lane)

There is around 10km, or six miles, of tailbacks along the section according to data provided by Inrix.

Mornington Crescent now back open

Friday 10 May 2024 08:52 , Will Mata

Mornington Crescent has reopened.

The Northern line Tube station had been closed due to a shortage of staff on Friday morning.

Transport for London confirmed the reopening at 8.45am.

Transport for London pays out thousands in device clash refunds after passengers overcharged

Friday 10 May 2024 08:34 , Will Mata

Transport for London (TfL) has refunded overcharged passengers in the capital thousands of pounds due to device clashes.

Data from TfL showed £8,369.25 was refunded for 609 cases between 12 June and 26 June 2023 - the equivalent of £217,594 across the year. Passenger watchdog TravelWatch has warned that these refunds could be “the tip of the iceberg.”

Device clashes occur when customers use one device to tap into a station as they start their journey, and another on the way out. TfL’s systems are unable to recognise that the transactions belong to the same customer.

Maryam Kara has the full story here.

Three mile tailbacks at South Mimms

Friday 10 May 2024 08:32 , Will Mata

There are delays on the M25 clockwise as traffic queues from from J22 A1081 (St Albans / London Colney) to J23 A1M (South Mimms).

Data from Inrix shows this is due to a construction area.

Latest updates show that there are tailbacks of around 5km or three miles.

Traffic queuing on M25 after lane closed

Friday 10 May 2024 08:27 , Will Mata

Traffic is currently queuing on the M25 anticlockwise from J27 (M11) to J25 A10 (Enfield).

One lane is closed along the route due to works.

As of 8.25am, the tailback length was around 10km or six miles.

TfL extends Woolwich ferry operating hours to every 15 minutes

Friday 10 May 2024 08:23 , Will Mata

Transport for London (TfL) has extended the Woolwich Ferry’s operating hours, with two boats operating every day of the week.

The free ferry is again transporting passengers across the Thames with a daily service frequency of every 15 minutes.

The Woolwich Ferry, which has been operating since the 14th century, has had its service extended to run between 5am and 9pm.

Maryam Kara has the full story here.

Drivers told to pack extra food and drink

Friday 10 May 2024 07:32 , Will Mata

Drivers have been told to pack extra food and drink on their journeys on the M25 as parts of the motorway close for the weekend.

The RAC gave the warning, according to the Mail, with journey times expected to be much longer than normal in some cases.

Alice Simpson, of the RAC, said: “As this next M25 weekend closure immediately follows major national rail strikes which could see many more people take to the roads, it could be up to six days of disrupted travel for London's drivers.

“Anyone heading to Chessington World of Adventures, which is close to the official A3 diversion route, should expect delays and pack extra food and drink in the event they're on the road longer than expected.”

Two Tube stations closed on Friday morning

Friday 10 May 2024 07:27 , Will Mata

Mornington Crescent and Clapham South Tube stations are both closed on Friday morning.

Transport for London said that this is due to the unavailability of station staff, in both cases.

Kentish Town is also closed due to a long standing work project.

Croydon Tramlink part suspended due to 'damaged wheels'

Friday 10 May 2024 07:25 , Will Mata

Transport for London has taken several trams out of service due to damanged wheels which has led to a partial suspension on Friday.

As of 7.20am, there is no service between East Croydon and New Addington, Elmers End and Beckenham Junction.

The BBC has reported that the incident was caused by unknown debris on the track.