Man filmed on railway tracks near Acton Main Line as Elizabeth line trains held
Footage from Tuesday 27 October appears to show a man walking along the line near the west London station. British Transport Police and Network Rail have not given any details about the incident.
A man was filmed on the railway tracks near Acton Main Line station on Tuesday 27 October, and Elizabeth line trains were reportedly held while he was on the line.
Footage shared with UB1UB2 appears to show the man skipping along the tracks behind the fencing next to the platforms, at what looks like dusk or early evening.
Passengers said services through the station were held up while he was on the railway. It is not clear how long the disruption lasted, how many trains were affected or what happened to the man afterwards.
British Transport Police, which polices Britain's railways, and Network Rail have not given any details about the incident. Neither body has said whether anyone was arrested or injured.
A busy stretch of line
Acton Main Line is in the London Borough of Ealing, on the Great Western Main Line out of Paddington. It is in Travel Zone 3 and is served by Elizabeth line trains running between central London and Heathrow, Maidenhead and Reading.
The same tracks also carry fast intercity and freight trains. Because of that, a report of someone on the line here can disrupt services well beyond Acton, both into and out of Paddington.
When someone is reported on the track, trains are usually stopped or told to run at caution in both directions until the line is confirmed to be clear. This can cause delays and cancellations long after the person has left the railway.
Trespass is a regular cause of disruption on the Elizabeth line in west London. TfL's service updates often report delays between Paddington and Reading or Heathrow because of an earlier trespasser on the track.
Why trespass is so dangerous
Network Rail says trespassing on the railway is extremely dangerous. The line through Acton is powered by overhead wires carrying 25,000 volts, which Network Rail says is about 100 times the power supply in an average home. You do not have to touch the wires to be electrocuted, because electricity can arc across a gap.
Trains on this stretch run at high speed and can take a long distance to stop, and modern trains can be very quiet as they approach. Trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence and can lead to a fine.
How to report someone on the railway
If you see someone on the tracks and there is an immediate danger, call 999. You can also tell station staff or use a help point on the platform.
For anything that is not an emergency, you can report it to British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40. Anyone with information about the incident at Acton Main Line on 27 October can contact British Transport Police the same way. Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Passengers whose journeys were delayed may be able to claim compensation from TfL under its Elizabeth line delay repay scheme, depending on how late they were.