• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

London blasts strand trains, buses, maybe flights

Posted on: Thursday, 7 July 2005, 08:19 CDT

In LONDON story "London blasts strand trains, buses, maybe flights," please read in first paragraph ... on Thursday ... instead of ... on Wednesday ... .

A corrected story follows.

By Jason Neely, European Aerospace & Airlines Correspondent

LONDON (Reuters) - London was plunged into transport chaos on Thursday with underground trains stranded in tunnels and all buses pulled from the streets for bomb checks following deadly blasts that destroyed at least one doubledecker.

The gridlock quickly stretched beyond London. Trains from across Britain were prevented from entering closed stations in the capital, where ambulance teams helped the injured including scores of travelers stranded underground.

A spokesman for Eurostar said trains to and from France were running but added: "The situation is being monitored by the second."

A doctor at Aldgate underground station close to the financial center of London where one of the train blasts occurred said at least 90 people were wounded there.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke told the House of Commons that efforts would be made to resume underground and bus operations as soon as possible but gave no indication of when that might be.

"People are strongly advised not to travel into central London as the emergency services must be allowed to do their work in the most effective way they can," he said.

British Airways said it expected flights to be affected after rail links to the capital's airports were suspended.

"There's been no impact as yet, but that is likely to change through the day," a spokeswoman said. "We're looking at plans for how to cope."

HEATHROW SECURITY TIGHT

Extra patrols of armed police were at Heathrow airport, the world's busiest air hub, amid tightened security as world leaders opened their G8 Summit at Gleneagles, a golf resort some 750 kilometers (466 miles) north of London.

"We were already on a heightened level of security, so that is still the case, which means higher police presence, additional patrols by armed police. If the security authorities give us any advice, we will obviously be taking that," said a spokeswoman for Heathrow operator BAA Plc.

"This will probably have an impact later in the day," she said of possible flight disruptions.

A spokesman for the Department of Transport declined to comment on what measures if any were being taken to step up checks on passengers trying to leave the UK by car, plane, train or ship.

"We do not disclose details of security procedures," he said.

The Port of London said there had been no incidents there, but it was on a high level of alert and working closely with the Metropolitan Police Marine Support Unit.

Ferry operator P&O said all ferries and ports were operating normally.

(Additional reporting by Pete Harrison)

Source: REUTERS

More News in this Category