Delays due to flooding at Farringdon leaves passengers stranded

A burst water pipe at Farringdon train station has caused major delays and cancellations to many Thameslink journeys over the past two weeks. The burst pipe has caused flooding and disruptions over approximately 12 miles of track. Many commuters frequently have to check updated timetables to find if/when their trains are running but unfortunately many stations are only receiving one train every hour. Other stations are facing two-hour delays and a large numbers of cancelled trains, making journeys longer and harder for commuters.

These delays have impacted hugely on passengers travelling to airports as well as everyday commuters and school goers, adding in some cases over an hour to their journey to and from their destination. One schoolgirl says: “This is absolutely ridiculous. My train journey is usually 15 minutes but the other day I had to take 2 trains, a bus and walk to get home, taking me an hour and a half. It’s just as bad on the way to school. Trains only come every hour so I have to take a 40 minute bus.”

Many passengers who usually take the train are frequenting bus use, as this can sometimes be their only other means of transport. This is leading to overcrowding on buses and many have to wait while two buses pass, as they simply cannot fit on. Others are taking alternate train routes but again this is also proving to be a struggle, as there are now fewer carriages on some Thameslink trains due to the flooding.

Thames Water are not admitting responsibility for the burst pipe, causing a dispute with Thameslink. This is just prolonging the delays and making commuting increasingly difficult.

Hopefully this problem should be sorted by Friday 30th January but it has been 14 days already and there have been hardly any improvements. Not only this but there is also extensive work being done on many Thameslink stations as part of a passenger improvement program, adding to the stress which has already been caused by the severe delays. So far it is not looking hopeful but until this problem is sorted public transport passengers will have to continue to find alternative routes to reach their destination.

By Emily O’Brien, Sutton High School