An electrical fault caused by leaves on the line is preventing trains from running between Epsom Downs and Sutton stations this afternoon.

National Rail initially alerted rail users after a train broke down in the Belmont area, blocking the line.

While rail workers managed to move it, however, an electrical fault was found to be the cause of the break down, shutting operations on the line during the afternoon and into the evening as responders attempted to fix the problem.

In a statement posted to their website, a spokesperson for National Rail wrote:

"A train broke down earlier in the Belmont area, blocking the line in both directions.

"This has now moved, but the reason has now been determined as a failure of the electricity supply due to a build up of leaves on the line.

"A specialist train will be attending soon to clean this, and we'll provide a further update when we have one."

Disruptions are expected between Epsom Downs and Sutton through 5pm, National Rail said.

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