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Paddington rail disruption to Christmas getaway Paddington rail disruption to Christmas getaway
(about 1 hour later)
Passengers travelling to and from London's Paddington station continue to face severe disruption after a fire damaged line-side signal equipment. Passengers travelling to and from London's Paddington station continue to face severe disruption after a fire damaged lineside signal equipment.
Services to Heathrow airport have been suspended and First Great Western trains have been cancelled or delayed since the trouble started on Thursday. Services to Heathrow Airport have been suspended and First Great Western trains have been cancelled or delayed since the trouble started on Thursday.
Damage to equipment near Acton in west London closed two of the four lines. Fire damage to signal equipment in west London closed two of the four lines.
Network Rail said it was working to fix the problem but delays were likely to continue into Saturday. Network Rail said it was working to fix the problem but delays were likely to continue into Saturday lunchtime.
Friday was due to be the busiest day of the year for road, rail and air travel as thousands of people begun their festive getaway. Friday was due to be the busiest day of the year for road, rail and air travel as thousands of people began their festive getaway.
Tube delaysTube delays
Network Rail said a fire severely damaged a signal box next to the track in west London on Thursday morning, affecting its signalling system. Network Rail said two fires - one near Acton and another near Heathrow - severely damaged equipment in west London, affecting its signalling system.
It said the fire damage was so extensive it was having to rebuild the box and associated equipment and engineers would be on site throughout the night to complete the work.It said the fire damage was so extensive it was having to rebuild the box and associated equipment and engineers would be on site throughout the night to complete the work.
A spokesman said: "The work will continue throughout the night but there is likely to be disruption throughout Saturday."A spokesman said: "The work will continue throughout the night but there is likely to be disruption throughout Saturday."
The Heathrow Express cancelled its services due to a signal failure at Hayes and Harlington, leaving many of the 123,000 passengers heading out of the capital forced to take the Tube.
First Great Western has been operating a reduced service, running about half the normal number of trains into and out of Paddington.First Great Western has been operating a reduced service, running about half the normal number of trains into and out of Paddington.
Spokesman for the train operator James Davis said: "We are continuing to operate as many services as we can with only two lines open but it is half of the usual capacity."Spokesman for the train operator James Davis said: "We are continuing to operate as many services as we can with only two lines open but it is half of the usual capacity."
He said trains were running with a delay of up to 30 minutes as they have to slow down as they travel between Slough and Southall.He said trains were running with a delay of up to 30 minutes as they have to slow down as they travel between Slough and Southall.
Heavy rain
During the morning the reduced service put extra pressure on the Tube network.During the morning the reduced service put extra pressure on the Tube network.
There were severe delays on the Bakerloo line and minor delays on the Jubilee line due to a signalling systems failure.There were severe delays on the Bakerloo line and minor delays on the Jubilee line due to a signalling systems failure.
'Cause mayhem'
BBC News website reporter Jane Mower travelled to Paddington from Maidenhead.
She said: "It took me almost two hours longer than normal to get home last night and train staff were telling us then that the problem would continue into today.
"When I arrived at Maidenhead this morning several trains had been cancelled in both directions and others were delayed and we only had to pay off-peak ticket prices.
"If this continues for the rest of the day it is going to cause mayhem as everyone tries to get away for the Christmas break."
BBC Berkshire's Patrick O Hagan, at Reading station, said: "If you're heading to Paddington through Berkshire and Oxfordshire you would normally expect around eight trains every half an hour through Reading.BBC Berkshire's Patrick O Hagan, at Reading station, said: "If you're heading to Paddington through Berkshire and Oxfordshire you would normally expect around eight trains every half an hour through Reading.
"There's about half that number and there's been no express services from further west at all.""There's about half that number and there's been no express services from further west at all."
Heathrow Airport said it was expecting 123,000 passengers to depart and 104,000 to arrive.Heathrow Airport said it was expecting 123,000 passengers to depart and 104,000 to arrive.
At Gatwick about 1.5 million people are expected to travel through the airport between 17 December and 2 January.At Gatwick about 1.5 million people are expected to travel through the airport between 17 December and 2 January.
Volunteers from the London 2012 Olympic Games have been drafted in to help passengers at both airports.Volunteers from the London 2012 Olympic Games have been drafted in to help passengers at both airports.
They have been handing out children's packs and giving safety advice.They have been handing out children's packs and giving safety advice.
On the roads, dozens of sets of roadworks have been lifted on major routes but the Highways Agency is urging drivers to check the weather forecast, with heavy rain in much of the country expected to cause more flooding.On the roads, dozens of sets of roadworks have been lifted on major routes but the Highways Agency is urging drivers to check the weather forecast, with heavy rain in much of the country expected to cause more flooding.