Arsenal vs Southampton: Fans warned of travel chaos at Finsbury Park amid Victoria and Piccadilly Line delays

Hoards: Overcrowding outside Finsbury Park tube station on the Piccadilly Line.
Julia Durbin
Chloe Chaplain1 December 2016

Arsenal fans and commuters faced travel misery as the Piccadilly and Victoria lines were hit by major problems.

Transport bosses warned Gunners fans heading to their side's home game against Southampton that their journeys were likely to be disrupted severely.

It comes as the Victoria line was closed between Seven Sisters and Walthamstow hours before kick-off at the Emirates Stadium after a person was hit by a train at Blackhorse Road station.

British Transport Police were called just after 2.30pm and said the person was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

The Piccadilly line has also been hit by major disruption after half of the trains were taken out of service on Friday to be repaired.

Commuter chaos: Improvement works at Finsbury Park left customers queuing outside the station
Twitter/Staciah Greer

Passengers have been told to take other travel routes where possible and Transport for London advised that trains may not be stopping at Finsbury Park to avoid unsafe overcrowding.

Following a day of Tube disruption, Highbury and Islington was also evacuated just before 2pm because of a fire alert.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing passengers running out of the station following alerts of a “major incident”.

London Fire Brigade told the Standard they had three engines and 15 fire-fighters attending the call-out but it is not yet known the cause or scale of the incident.

And the entire Victoria line was hit by severe delays.

A TfL spokeswoman told the Standard: “Finsbury Park is always busy on Arsenal match days but with the issues we’re experiencing currently on the Piccadilly line it’s particularly important that customers plan ahead.”

And an announcement on the Twitter account added: “Finsbury Park Station will be extremely busy between 5pm and 7.45pm.

“To avoid overcrowding, some trains on the Piccadilly and Victoria lines may now be able to stop at the station.

“If you are able to travel outside these times, or avoid using Finsbury Park station, your journey may be easier.

“Valid tickets are being accepted on local buses and Great Northern Rail services.”

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