No trains are running on part of London's Suffragette line after a freight train derailed near Barking, with disruption expected to last until at least the end of Monday 2 November. National Rail says London Overground is running a reduced service between Gospel Oak and South Tottenham, and no trains at all between South Tottenham and Barking Riverside. The c2c service between Barking and Grays, via Dagenham Dock, Rainham and Purfleet, is also suspended.

What happened at Barking

The freight train partly derailed between Woodgrange Park and Barking on Friday 23 October, causing significant damage to railway infrastructure. RAIL magazine reported that a set of bogies on GB Railfreight's 13:05 London Gateway to Hams Hall intermodal service was left hanging off as the train approached Barking, that two wagons were cut up on site because cranes could not reach the scene, and that about 1.2 kilometres of infrastructure needs repair, including replacement points and damaged cabling. Operator c2c said no passengers were on board the freight train, no injuries were reported, and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch was notified and attended.

Alternatives for passengers

Tickets are being accepted at no extra cost on a range of alternative services, including London buses between Barking, Dagenham Dock, Rainham, Purfleet and Grays, Greater Anglia services between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria, and the District line between Barking and Upminster. Replacement buses run every half hour between Upminster and Grays, calling at Rainham and Purfleet, and passengers travelling to or from Dagenham Dock can use the EL2 bus. National Rail advises passengers to check before travelling, and says anyone whose train is cancelled can travel on an alternative service up to two hours either side of the original departure, or claim a full refund.

Sources: National Rail, RAIL magazine, c2c.