Passengers boarding a District line Tube train in London.
Passengers face further disruption today after days of flooding have already caused travel chaos (Picture: Sinai Noor/REX/Shutterstock)

The hump day commute is off to a sticky start after severe delays on the District line while a multi-vehicle crash is wreaking havoc on the M1.

It comes after days of chaos for travellers on the UK road and rail networks due to flooding. The A421 remains closed for a third day in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire – and National Highways can’t say when it will reopen.

A signal fault is causing severe delays on the London Underground District line, while drivers in Derbyshire face up to 40-minute delays after two lorries and a car crashed on the motorway.

Scroll down for more updates, including on the flood warnings across England.


Two lorries and a car crash on the M1


M1 traffic camera footage showing cars on the motorway in Derbyshire
Drivers have been warned of 40-minute delays on the M1 in Derbyshire (Picture: National Highways)

A crash involving multiple vehicles is causing long delays on the M1 in Derbyshire.

Two lorries and a car crashed on the northbound carriageway outside Mansfield between junctions J28 and J29 at rush hour.

As a result, motorists face long delays as one lane has been closed, causing congestion southbound.

Traffic was briefly held but it appears to be moving again past the crash site.

Travel time through the area is around 40 minutes, an Inrix alert says.

Severe delays on District line after signal issue

Disruption has put a spanner in the works for passengers on the District line.

The London Underground line has been hit by severe delays between Edgware Road and Wimbledon due to a Network Rail signal failure at East Putney.

Luckily, the rest of the line and the TfL network has good service.

Delays between Banbury and Bicester North expected until mid-morning

Trains are having to run at a reduced speed on all lines and National Rail warns they could be delayed by up to 20 minutes.

It’s affecting all Chiltern Railways trains between Birmingham Snow Hill, Birmingham Moor Street and Banbury towards London Marylebone.

Ticket acceptance is in place on these alternative services:

  • Avanti West Coast between Birmingham New Street and London Euston
  • CrossCountry between Leamington Spa and Reading
  • Great Western Railway between Banbury and London Paddington

Official A421 diversion route


The A421 in Bedfordshire is closed in both directions between the A6 (Bedford) & M1 J13 (Brogborough) due to flooding. Following spells of torrential rain flooding occurred at Marston Moretaine on the evening of Sunday 22 September with water levels of up eight feet recorded. This has severely impacted efforts to clear floodwater from the carriageway. National Highways service providers continue to work at scene and at present a number of articulated tankers and pumping equipment are in use as efforts to clear the road continue. At this time it is expected the the A421 will remain closed today; at this stage we cannot provide a timeline for the road to reopen. Three vehicles that have been abandoned in the flooded section will also need to be recovered before the carriageway can be fully re-opened.
The road is completely blocked by flooding (Picture: National Highways)

Northbound diversion

  • From the M1 J13 take Bedford Road northbound towards Ampthill/Ridgmont.
  • Travel northbound on Bedford Road for approximately 7 miles, continuing as it transitions into Woburn Road and passing through Brogborough and Marston Moretaine, to the Marsh Leys junction roundabout with the A6/A421.
  • From here you can re-join the A421 to continue your journey.

Southbound diversion

  • Exit the A421 southboud at the Marsh Leys junction with the A6 for Northampton
  • At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Woburn road southbound towards Wootton
  • Continue southbound on Woburn Road for approximately 7 miles, continuing as it transitions into Bedford Road and passing through Marston Moretaine and Brogborough to reach J13 of the M1.
  • From here road users can continue their journey.

Flood warnings in place today

Take care while travelling if you’re in any of the affected areas.


METRO GRAPHICS flood warnings 25.09 (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The flood warnings are focused on central England (Picture: Metro Graphics)

Here are the 28 areas where a red warning is in place, meaning flooding is expected.

  • Areas close to the River Great Ouse at Wyboston, Eaton Socon, Eynesbury, Eaton Ford, and St Neots
  • Areas near the Wootton Brook in the Collingtree, Merefield and Shelfleys parts of Northampton
  • Cogenhoe Mill Caravan Site
  • Isolated properties and villages near the River Nene from Wellingborough to Thrapston
  • Isolated properties near the River Nene from Cogenhoe to Great Doddington
  • Low lying areas close to the River Great Ouse and River Ouzel at Newport Pagnell
  • Low lying areas close to the River Great Ouse at Fulwell, Radclive and Buckingham
  • Properties closest to the River Ock from Tesco to St. Helen’s Wharf
  • River Cherwell from below Banbury to just above Upper Heyford
  • River Cherwell from Lower Heyford down to Cherwell Bridge
  • River Great Ouse at New Bradwell and Haversham
  • River Great Ouse at Odell
  • River Great Ouse at Turvey
  • River Ivel at Langford
  • River Leam at Eathorpe, Huningham and Offchurch
  • River Nene at Billing Aquadrome and nearby business parks
  • River Nene in Wellingborough
  • River Ouzel at Bletchley and Caldecotte
  • River Ouzel at Leighton Buzzard, Stoke Hammond and Great Brickhill
  • River Ouzel at Simpson, Woolstone, Middleton and Willen
  • River Ray for Islip
  • River Ray from the Heath Bridge area to and including the Otmoor Basin
  • River Thame at Dorchester
  • River Thame from Chiselhampton to Drayton St Leonard
  • River Tove at Towcester and Cosgrove
  • Sor Brook at Bodicote and Adderbury and The Bloxham Brook
  • Wendlebury village on the Wendlebury Brook
  • Wider area at risk from the River Great Ouse at Fulwell, Radclive and Buckingham


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