Drivers on the M1 face long delays after a crash saw a vehicle flip over in Leicestershire, closing the northbound carriageway between junctions J20 and J21.
Meanwhile, train passengers threatened with prosecutions after using railcards at the wrong time of the day could get compensation after Northern Rail’s U-turn on its own ticketing rules.
The operator made headlines after it emerged that passengers using their 16-25 Railcard had been accused of wrongfully using the discount travel.
One of the passengers is Sam Williamson, 22, whose delight over a £1.85 saving on a rail fare turned into a nightmare after Northern sent him a letter trying to prosecute him over ‘an innocent mistake.’
Now Northern has announced it will withdraw these types of prosecutions and review previous cases, the Telegraph reports.
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Update after M1 crash in Leicestershire
Motorway closure after crash on the M1
Part of the M1 has closed in Leicestershire after a crash on the motorway.
Traffic has stopped northbound after a vehicle ‘rolled over,’ travel analyst Inrix said.
All three lanes northbound have been closed, National Highways alert shows.
Normal traffic conditions are not expected until about 1.45pm, it said.
No SWR trains between Romsey and Eastleigh for hours
South Western Railway passengers have been warned of cancellations and delays after a faulty signal.
It is set to wreak havoc on services between Romsey and Eastleigh until 5pm as all lines are blocked.
Pressure on government to step in over anytime tickets
MPs have called on the government to intervene as it emerged that railcard holders had been prosecuted after mistakenly using discounted Anytime Single tickets to travel at peak times.
Four MPs have now backed a motion in parliament calling the government to investigate train fare structures and practices.
The motion was tabled by Ayoub Khan, an independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, with support from Labour MP Jon Trickett, and independent MPs Iqbal Mohamed and Adnan Hussain.
It urged the government to step in to ‘ensure fair treatment and protection for all rail passengers, particularly vulnerable younger travellers who rely on railcards for affordable travel.’
Northern Rail comments on the railcard drama
The rail company said it withdrew two cases yesterday and two more will be axed at the end of the month as they are already in the system.
A Northern spokesperson told Metro: ‘We understand that fares and ticketing across the railway can, at times, be difficult to understand, and we are reviewing our processes for ensuring compliance with ticket and railcard terms and conditions.
‘With regard to recent reported cases involving use of the 16-25 Railcard with fares under £12 before 10am, we are withdrawing any live cases and will also look to review anyone who has been prosecuted previously on this specific issue.
‘We are actively engaged with government and industry to simplify fares to help customers.’
Fewer than 25 cases since 2020 need to be reviewed, Northern said.
Northern Rail forced to make U-turn on railcard cases
The train operator has been forced to make a U-turn on prosecutions accusing passengers of using their railcard at the wrong time of the day.
Several Northern passengers who had bought a discount ticket using a 16-25 Railcard and mistakenly used it at the wrong time of day risked being taken to court, a fine and a criminal record.
Sam Williamson paid £1.85 less for a train ticket to travel from Broadbottom to Manchester. About a month later, he received a letter from Northern saying he paid £1.90 less than he should have.
The 22-year-old consultant told Metro: ‘The company potentially trying to prosecute me feels like a wildly disproportionate response from Northern over an innocent mistake that could have been settled in minutes if they had allowed it.’
He had assumed the ticket was for ‘anytime’ travel.
However, the terms and conditions for the 16-25 Railcard say the discount does not apply on journeys costing less than £12 before 10am between Monday and Friday.
Now Northern Rail has announced it is withdrawing these types of prosecutions and reviewing previous cases, according to the Telegraph.
It comes after it emerged that the National Rail Conditions of travel state that passengers who accidentally board a train with a restricted ticket should be charged the difference between the fare they paid and the lowest available ticket price.
Sam welcomed the news of Northern’s U-turn, saying it is ‘a good start’ and calling for others who have already been ‘unreasonably convicted on similar offences have it overturned.’
Major train disruption in Rochdale extended
Passengers travelling between Leeds, Rochdale and Manchester have been caught in chaos this morning after an electricity supply failure.
It has caused signalling problems for Northern trains running through Rochdale station.
Road closures on the M27 start tonight
Sections of the M27 will close from tonight until Saturday, followed by a string of further closures across the exit and entry slip roads at three junctions.
Read more about the October motorway closures below.
Traffic delays on the M65 after a crash
Motorists near Preston face long delays of up to 50 minutes after an earlier crash.
All traffic was held briefly on the M65 westbound between J3 Riley Green and J2 M61 after the smash.
Congestion is building in the area, with National Highways estimating around six miles of tailbacks.
All lanes reopen on A14 after crash
National Highways warns that there are still 20 minute delays in the area after the A14 was reopened eastbound between junctions 1 and 2, following a crash.
Electricity supply problems causing delays in Rochdale area
Following a failure of the electricity supply in the Rochdale area earlier today, this has now caused signalling probems, affecting services running through this station.
Services running through Rochdale may be cancelled, delayed by up to an hour or revised.
The disruption is expected to last until 9am, and affects the following services:
- between Leeds and Manchester Victoria / Wigan Wallgate / Wigan North Western / Chester
- between Clitheroe and Rochdale / Wigan North Western
- between Blackburn and Rochdale / Headbolt Lane
Disruption caused by signal fault between Moorgate and Finsbury Park
Some lines between the two London stations have had to close, causing delays on Great Northern services to and from Moorgate.
Trains could be cancelled, revised, or delayed by up to 15 minutes, and the disruption is set to last until 8.30am.
Road blocked on A14 due to collision
Police have stopped traffic on the A14 eastbound between junctions 1 for Thornby and 2 for Kelmarsh following a crash this morning.
Recovery vehicles are en route to move the affected vehicles out of the carriageway.
Drivers are experiencing 40 minute delays in the area, with about five miles of congestion built up already.
Delays between London Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness
A signal fault between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness is causing problems for c2c services this morning.
All lines have reopened following the blockage, but trains running on the entire c2c network could be cancelled, delayed or revised.
The disruption is set to last through the entire rush hour, until 9am.
Signal problem causes delays between Romsey and Salisbury
A fault with the signalling system has caused problems between Romsey and Salisbury this morning.
All previously blocked lines have reopened, but while service recovers trains could still be cancelled or delayed.
National Rail expects the disruption to last until 10am.
These are the services affected:
- between Cardiff Central / Bristol Temple Meads and Portsmouth Harbour
- between Bristol Temple Meads and Fratton
- between Gloucester and Southampton Central
- between Salisbury and Romsey / Southampton Central
Advice for travellers between Rainham and Dartford due to depot problem
A National Rail spokesperson said: ‘A problem in one of Thameslink’s depots between Rainham and London is preventing some units from leaving the depot this morning.
‘This has means that Thameslink have to run a reduced service this morning between Luton and Rainham.
‘Staff are en-route to the depot in order to resolve the fault in order for these service to depart.’
If you are travelling between Rainham and Dartford please allow an extra 30 minutes to complete your journey as you may need to wait longer than normal for a train or travel on an alternative service.
This is due to a problem in a depot between Rainham and Dartford meaning a reduced number of services will be able to run between these stations this morning.
If you are travelling this morning and your train is cancelled you can use your ticket on any alternative Thameslink or Southeastern service.
What’s going on with the London Underground this morning?
Commuters into London may be affected by the ongoing disruption at London Bridge, but once you arrive in the capital, things are looking fairly smooth.
There are currently no reported incidents across the London Underground, Overground and Tram networks, with good service on all lines.
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