Could new rail carriages save lives in terror attack?
Engineers say they have developed a rail carriage that could be safer if a bomb was exploded on board.
Can you get compensation for snow chaos?
South West Trains has offered to refund customers, after today's wintry weather caused major delays on the railways.
Train overcrowding in London gets worse
Overcrowding on rush-hour trains in London and south east England is getting worse, official figures showed today.
Live updates
Trains affected by the track-side fire at Gatwick Airport
First Capital Connect: Click here for the latest updates
Gatwick Express: Click here for the latest updates from the Twitter account
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First Great Western: Click here for the latest updates
Gatwick track-side fire causing severe delays for commuters
Travellers are being faced with severe delays and cancellations after a track-side fire at Gatwick Airport has left two of the four tracks out of use.
The fire happened at 5.15pm and was extinguished by rail workers.
Commuters are being advised to check here at the National Rail Enquiries website or to contact the train company to see if their journey will be affected.
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Travellers faced with severe delays after line-side fire at Gatwick Airport
Turns out that Gatwick fire was just outside the station. Still 3 or 4 @networkrail bods stomping about on @southernrailuk slow lines
From @NickRH14 on Twitter:INFO: The 17:32 Victoria to Brighton is cancelled due to line side fire in the Gatwick area.
From @GatwickExpress on Twitter:Tl: In regards to the line-side fire at Gatwick some lines have now reopened. However there may be some delays. Apologies
From @FirstCC on Twitter:Passengers warned of severe delays due to line-side fire at Gatwick Airport
INFO: Due to line side fire in Gatwick area this is currently casuing disruptions. More to follow pls keep an eye on tweets.
From @SouthernRailUK on Twitter:Line-side fire at Gatwick Airport brings trains to stand-still
Owing to a line-side fire at Gatwick Airport all lines are current blocked. Will update ASAP
From @FirstCC on Twitter:Commuters face long delays
There were major delays for commuters this morning. A broken-down freight train near Shepherd's Bush in west London meant London Overground services were unable to run between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction.
The problem also led to delays to Southern train company services between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction. To add to passengers' difficulties, a lineside fire near Queen's Park station in north-west London meant London Overground services were suspended between Willesden Junction and Euston.
The Queen's Park problem also affected the London Underground, with severe delays on the Bakerloo line.
There were also severe delays on the Piccadilly line due to a trespasser on the track at Hyde Park Corner.
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East Coast rail route set for privatisation
The East Coast rail route will be put back into private ownership after a long period under state control, the government will confirm this week.
Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, will unveil plains to seek tenders for the London to Edinburgh service over three years after it was nationalised.
The decision to put one of Britain's most used rail routes back into private sector hands is expected to reignite the rivalry between Virgin Trains and FirstGroup, who competed for the West Coast franchise last year.
Mother sent away from hospital before train birth
It emerged that Miss Banks had earlier been seen at Tunbridge Wells Hospital but was sent away as she was not in labour and contractions had not started.
– Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust spokespersonMs Banks was appropriately assessed at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, was not in labour and no contractions had started.
As is standard practice, she was told to return home and re-attend the hospital once labour had begun. We would always encourage women to return to their home and not to travel further afield than is strictly necessary.
The trust is pleased that a member of its staff, who was in the vicinity at the time, safely delivered baby Phoebe and we would like to pass on our congratulations to the couple.
Train baby witness: 'I heard a lady shout out - it's a girl!'
Commuter Neil Perkins, 22, a recruitment consultant from Maidstone, was sitting close to Miss Banks before she went into labour. He said his "jaw dropped" when he realised she had given birth.
He said:
We got to West Malling and the train stopped. The driver asked for anyone who was a doctor or nurse to make themselves known, and I thought someone had been taken ill.
I jumped off the train and I saw everyone running to the carriage behind us. I called my mate to see if he could pick me up and then the lady started screaming. They were big screams.
I was a bit worried for her, but the driver ran up and said not to worry, someone had just gone into labour.
The lady was screaming quite loudly, and me and a South African lady were saying that the ambulance needs to hurry up.
Then, minutes later, I heard a lady shout out 'It's a girl!' I was just in shock.
As I walked down I could see the mum wrapping the baby in a jumper or something and giving it a cuddle.
It was madness, then the ambulance turned up. It was a really exciting moment. I have never witnessed anything like it.
I hope the girl gets free train tickets for life.
Father of newborn 'on cloud nine'
The father of a baby girl born on a train packed full of commuters during rush hour has spoken of his joy.
Allan Stanley was travelling back to his mother's home with her and his partner Sonia Banks when the contractions started.
– Allan Stanley, father"I felt like, 'Oh my God'. It feels like I'm on cloud nine. It's mad. I was present at the birth and witnessed everything.
Everything's fine, they are just waiting for the doctor to do some tests and hopefully mother and baby will be released later."
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