TfL Victoria Line delays: Brixton fire causes London rush-hour disruption as forecasters warn of wet weather travel misery
London commuters have been hit by rush hour chaos this morning amid warnings of wet weather travel chaos across the UK.
The Victoria Line had no service between Victoria and Brixton from just after 7am after a fire at Brixton station.
Firefighters had extinguished the "small track-side fire" by 8.07am, the London Fire Brigade reported. The line has since reopened but it is now running with severe delays.
It came as forecasters warned rail users across the country to brace for further travel disruption, with the country facing a month's rainfall in less than six hours.
Met Office forecasters said commuters across England and Wales could expect issues throughout the day due to the wet weather.
Torrential rain and potential flooding will hit swathes of the UK on Tuesday morning, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning extending from Newcastle to Plymouth.
⚠🚇 - Disruption Update-
No service between Victoria and Brixton and severe delays on the rest.
Please continue to use alternative routes to your destinations.
Tickets accepted on Southeastern, South Western Railway, Great Northern, G Anglia, London Overground and buses.— Victoria line (@victorialine)
England and Wales should expect between 30mm and 50mm in a matter of hours, with up to 70mm in isolated spots.
Forecaster Mark Wilson warned of "thunder, lightning and gusty winds" through the affected areas.
"It's very likely there will be issues with surface water causing flooding," he said.
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Video shows crowds shut out from the Victoria line after fire alert
Rush hour commuters on Tuesday are set to face the worst of the disruption, with buses and trains likely to be affected by the heavy rain.
Mr Wilson warned that London and the South East would see the heaviest rain in the morning, but this will then spread northwards, hitting northern commuters worst by the evening.
"There could be delays and cancellations and a lot of spray on the roads and that may lead to road closures,” he said, adding that localised flooding could cause issues.
National Rail has issued its own warning to train users, urging all customers to “check before you travel”.
Already disruption has been reported on West Midlands and Chiltern railways, due to a fallen tree blocking the lines.
⚠🚇 - Disruption Update-
No service between Victoria and Brixton and severe delays on the rest.
Please continue to use alternative routes to your destinations.
Tickets accepted on Southeastern, South Western Railway, Great Northern, G Anglia, London Overground and buses.— Victoria line (@victorialine)
Some parts of England and Wales are expected to enjoy "brief respite" in the early afternoon, before more rain is predicted for the evening.
Tuesday's yellow weather warning is set to last until 11pm and while the heavy rain is expected to clear by Wednesday, a low-pressure front is expected to remain for the rest of the week.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms affecting much of England and Wales, with flooding possible in a few places. Brighter and showery in southern, western and central areas later. Rain reaching parts of southern Scotland but much of northwestern Britain brighter. https://t.co/Hjw1otqXUL pic.twitter.com/EKsDLZzdAu
— Met Office (@metoffice)
The burst of low pressure travelling across the UK, is understood to be the remnants of Hurricane Humberto, which hit the Bermuda coastline last week.
Over the rest of the week, it will bring bright and breezy weather to the UK along with some showers or prolonged spells of rain, according to forecasters.
Temperatures could rise to the low 20s, which is slightly warmer than average for early autumn.
The norm for this time of year is in the mid-to-high teens.
