PASSENGERS travelling to and from Reading Station are facing severe delays today after a train was derailed this morning.

No-one was on the First Great Western engine when it came off the tracks at Reading Depot in Cow Lane in the early hours but the obstruction blocked a third of the carriages serving the Thames Valley area which had to remain in their overnight berths.

Routes between Reading, Basingstoke, Bedwyn and Gatwick Airport, plus Slough to Windsor, Twyford to Henley, Maidenhead to Marlow and Paddington to Greenford are likely to be delayed until 4pm.

South West Trains, CrossCountry and London Underground are accepting First Great Western passengers where possible and rail replacement buses are operating between Reading and Basingstoke.

First Great Western spokesman James Davis apologised for the delays.