A derailed freight train on the London Overground at Camden station caused massive delays yesterday, which were expected to continue throughout the week .

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said.

"24 hours on from the derailment at Camden Road we are demanding some clear and consistent information from the transport authorities into a potentially life threatening incident that will leave services closed into next week.

"This chaotic management of a deadly serious situation exposes the nonsense of having a whole raft of different organisations on the tracks from LOROL, Freightliner, Network Rail, Transport for London and the Mayor's office. It is no surprise that with so many jockeys riding the same horse that they can't get their story straight.

"Initially TFL tried to pass this off as merely an overhead line problem until RMT challenged them and there are huge inconsistencies between what TFL and Network Rail appear to be saying to the press. That confusion needs to be cleared up immediately.

"The fact that this wasn't one of the nuclear trains that use that line at that time of night is a relief to everyone but that appears to have been pure luck. The pictures that RMT has seen show that this freight train could have ended up toppling from the elevated section and into Camden Gardens. You cannot underestimate the seriousness of this incident.

"RMT recognises the need for a detailed investigation and the union will play a part in that but the authorities need to do a job of work to end the speculation that is rife at the moment and to clear up the confusion that they have created. The shambolic handling of this derailment by a myriad of different bodies reinforces the need for public ownership of rail under one accountable, public organisation. "