Latitude festival goers delayed after man climbs on top of train at Ipswich

Police retrieved a knife from the bare-chested man

Music fans on their way to Latitude Festival in Suffolk have been hit by severe train delays after a man wearing nothing but a pair of shorts climbed on top of a train carriage in Ipswich.

The unnamed man reportedly climbed on top of the train this morning (July 19) with The Guardian reporting that rail operators were forced to shut off the power lines as police tried to talk him down, thus causing huge delays for those heading to the festival. Services affected by the delay include those between Ipswich and London Liverpool Street, Norwich, Felixstowe, Cambridge, Lowestoft and Peterborough.

A Greater Anglia spokeswoman said: “Train services at Ipswich station have been delayed since 8.30am this morning following reports of a trespasser on the station roof. Emergency services are attending the incident which has required the power supply to the overhead power lines to be switched off, preventing train movements through the station.”

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Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the British transport police confirmed that officers had been called to the station at 8.26am and that “Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service also attended the incident, and placed a ladder to allow the man to get down, which he refused.”

The transport police also revealed that an officer had retrieved a retractable knife dropped by the man. “Police negotiators are continuing to speak to the man to encourage him to leave the roof safely, which will allow the station and lines to reopen more promptly,” confirmed the spokesperson.

This year’s Latitude Festival begins at Henham Park, Suffolk today (July 18), with a headline performance from Bloc Party. Other acts appearing on the festival’s main stage, Obelisk Arena, today include The Leisure Society, Tim Burgess, Stornoway, I Am Kloot, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power and The Maccabees.

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