Transport: Holidaymakers and commuters delayed

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The blast near Ealing Broadway railway station brought severe travel disruption to a large part of west London yesterday, with Tube services, trains and buses affected.

Police blocked off a wide area around the station, causing massive traffic jams on one of the main roads into the capital. Some holidaymakers on their way out of the capital to Heathrow missed their flights, while others heading west for the weekend found that their journeys were lengthened by several hours.

A spokesman for the Automobile Association said: "There was severe congestion in the area and buses were diverted from their usual routes, making the situation worse. It is a very popular route into London with many roads converging on the area. Luckily, by the time the rush hour began, the public had been made aware of the problem or there would have been major chaos."

The station, more than 100 yards away from the explosion and left undamaged, was closed for 12 hours. Bomb squad detectives meticulously examined the area for evidence.

Services run by Thames Trains, which normally stop at Ealing Broadway, ran through without stopping and instead made an extra stop further out, at West Ealing.

Ealing Broadway is a terminus for both Central line and District line Tube trains. Central line trains were only going as far as West Acton, while District line services were turning round at Ealing Common. Both stations are the last but one on their routes. Ealing Broadway station was reopened at noon yesterday and the congestion gradually eased in time for the evening rush hour.