COMMUTERS using the Piccadilly line suffered major delays on Monday morning after a man apparently sat on the tracks at Hounslow West station.
The station, in Bath Road, had to be closed and the power switched off as paramedics and officers from British Transport Police (BTP) removed him from the rails shortly after 9am.
The 59-year-old was arrested for trespass, obstruction of the railway and a public order offence. He was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for assessment.
One passenger, who asked not to be named, told the Chronicle how her hour-long journey to work had taken nearly two-and-a-half hours due to the delays.
She said her train had been stuck at Northfields for several minutes before the driver announced he was returning to the 'yard' and ordered passengers off the train.
"He said 'sorry, we're not going anywhere because apparently someone is sitting on the tracks'," she explained. "He said 'I can hear the sirens from here, sounds like the police are on their way'. Then he said 'now I'm being told to take the tube back to the yard, so you all have to get off'."
A BTP spokesman said it had received reports of a man trespassing on the tracks at Hounslow West at 9.05am.
"The man, aged 59, was arrested for trespass, obstruction of the railway and a public order offence and taken into custody. He has been bailed to return to police in January," she added. "The man was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for mental health assessment."
A Transport for London spokesman said the line was closed between Acton Town and Heathrow from 9am to 9.41am, when the man was removed. He added that there were minor delays throughout the morning due to the closure.
