More police deployed on trains as travel chaos ensues with passengers trying to escape London

More police have been brought onto trains after thousands of people last night made a last-ditch attempt to leave London

The Transport Secretary has said more British Transport Police officers have been drafted in after fears that trains will be packed as Londoners try a last-ditch attempt to get back home following new tier 4 restrictions.

Grant Shapps MP this morning warned the public that they must not travel, and urged them to stay at home as extra officers are to be deployed to trains to enforce social distancing and keep people safe.

His warning comes after the last trains leaving the south last night were packed, and passengers were warned that social distancing measures would not be possible due to the volume of people trying to travel.

Those onboard who felt “uncomfortable” were told they should not stay on the train.

Last night train tickets were selling out quickly, and by 7pm there were no trains available online from several London stations including Paddington, Kings Cross and Euston.  

Footage taken at London's St Pancras station showed passengers streaming down the concourse to board trains heading north.

This morning the Transport minister said it was “vital” that the public followed the new guidance.

He said: “Unfortunately the new Covid-19 strain is up to 70% more transmissible!

“It's vital to follow the new guidance to protect others and our NHS. If you're in Tier 4 you must not travel – or stay away from home overnight. Stay at home! Extra BTP officers deployed to keep people safe”

In a statement he added: "It is incredibly important that people follow the guidance, stay at home and do not attempt to travel. Our focus must be stopping the spread of this virus, protecting lives and our NHS.

"If you are in tier 4, the law means you must stay at home and you cannot stay overnight away from home. Across the rest of the country you must stay local.

“Follow the guidance and please do not come to a station unless you are permitted to travel.

"Extra BTP officers are being deployed to ensure only those who need to take essential journeys can travel safely.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said more BTP officers will be deployed to make sure only those who need to take essential journeys can travel safely (Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning speaking on the Andrew Marr show said the scenes of packed stations were totally “irresponsible”.

He said: “What matters is that everybody has a responsibility, the best gift you can give this Christmas is to stay at home and not transmit the virus.”

When asked if police would blockade roads he said: “Of course, I’ve spoken to the home secretary and the BTP’s responsibility is to police the transport system, but I hope this will be done by consent as it has been done so often.

When asked if police will be stopping people getting onto trains he said: “Of course, it’s the polices responsibility to police the law, and the law came into force in the early hours of this morning.”

Matt Hancock speaking on the Andrew Marr show this morning (BBC)

Harriet Clugston, a passenger, said that people on board the trains had attempted to secure space for themselves, but that there was not enough room to do so.

"As expected, train is crammed," she wrote on Twitter.

"Announcement on tannoy says social distancing 'will not be possible' due to volume and to get off if you are not comfortable with that.

"People have tried to secure social distance by placing [bags] on seats but being asked to remove them by other passengers as the train is so full."

Boris Johnson announced on Saturday that all areas of east and southeast England – including London – that had been in tier 3 would go into the newly defined tier 4 from midnight.

Tier 4 effectively returns residents to the rules in place during the national lockdown.

Those in tiers 1, 2, and 3 are now only able to mix with other households for a Christmas celebration on 25 December instead of the longer stretch initially planned by the government.