Queues: Commuters line up at Stratford station. Pic by Simone Sinclair via Twitter

Delays for commuters after Stratford station is flooded

Luke Jacobs, Senior Reporter Wednesday, June 6, 2012
5:30 PM

Commuters at Stratford endured travel chaos this afternoon after water from a burst pipe flooded parts of the tracks at the underground station.

Commuters are led away from a train at Stratford. Pic by Rosalee via Twitter

Central Line services are currently suspended between Bethnal Green and Leytonstone after the water cascaded through a ventilation shaft in Wick Lane.

The disruption meant some passengers had to abandon trains and queue up for replacement buses at Stratford station.

Some immediately took to Twitter to vent their frustration.

Simone Sinclair gave up and decided to walk home after waiting at Stratford for a bus to Leyton.

She wrote: “Central Line to Bethnal Green to Leytonstone down due to flooding. Now I’m crammed in an overground to Stratford and have to get a bus!!!

She later added: “Stratford is chaos!!! Police manning the bus stops. Never gonna cope with the Olympics.”

Another passenger, Ghene Snowdon, added: “Replacement bus service from Stratford is really full. Been waiting for our turn for the taxi.”

Nigel Holness, from London Underground, said the suspension was likely to be in place for some time.

He said: “Customers are advised in the meantime to use alternative routes to complete their journeys and check the TfL website for up to the minute travel information.”

A Thames Water spokesman said: “We are currently working really hard to repair a pipe that has burst in Wick Lane causing disruption to the Central Line.

“The burst happened on a 24-inch pipe which was under going planned work to fix a leak. This pipe is encased in concrete making the work particularly tricky. We’re really sorry for the disruption this is causing.”