London travel news LIVE: Euston Station hit with major disruption for second day running over signalling fault

Josh Salisbury and Jacob Phillips
·8 min read
London travel news LIVE: Euston Station hit with major disruption for second day running over signalling fault

Euston Station has been hit with major disruption for the second day running because of a signal failure between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction.

It comes after a similar signalling fault on Tuesday at the station threw services into disarray, leaving some passengers stranded on stationary trains for up to two hours.

Passengers are being warned to expect disruption for the rest of the day, with both Avanti West Coast services and London Northwestern Railway services affected.

Trains have been cancelled at short notice or delayed by up to two hours.

Meanwhile, on TfL services, the Northern Line has no service between Golders Green and Edgware due to engineering works, while on the roads, the M25 is experiencing heavy traffic anticlockwise from J30 A13 (Lakeside / Purfleet) to J28 A12.

For the latest travel updates scroll down.

Key Points

  • Euston services disrupted until end of day

Live coverage ends

22:21 , Jacob Phillips

The Evening Standard’s live transport coverage has ended.

Read all the latest transport stories from the Standard here.

Points failure at Hackney Downs causing 30 minute delays

21:45 , Jacob Phillips

A points failure in the Hackney Downs area means some lines are blocked, causing disruption at Liverpool Street.

As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised.

National Rail has warned disruption is expected until 11pm.

Lines reopen but delays of 45 minutes still expected

18:32 , Jacob Phillips

Lines have reopened following a signalling fault between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction.

Trains running between these stations may still be delayed by 45 minutes or cancelled, National Rail has warned.

Video shows crowded London Euston amid two-hour delays

16:24 , Jacob Phillips

Footage from London Euston at around lunchtime on Wednesday shows passengers rushing to leave London amid two-hour delays and mass cancellations.

When are the next London Underground tube strikes?

16:03 , Jacob Phillips

Londoners are facing two days of strikes on the London Underground network in April and May.

Aslef, which represents many train drivers, including on the Tube, is seeking better pay for its members. During negotiations, it claimed workers are being asked to sacrifice working conditions in exchange for a wage increase.

You can read everything you need to know about the Tube strikes here.

(PA)
(PA)

Train cancellations continue at Euston despite signal fix

14:56 , Josh Salisbury

Trains can now run at normal speed on all lines at Euston Station, National Rail has said.

However, delays and possible cancellations are expected for the rest of the day.

This means Avanti West Coast passengers and London Northwestern passengers are still being warned to expect cancellations.

Severe delays on District Line

14:25 , Josh Salisbury

There are severe delays between Turnham Green and Richmond on the District Line.

There are also minor delays between Earls Court and Barking eastbound, because of a faulty train at Kew Gardens.

Minor delays to Victoria line

14:10 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays due to an earlier faulty train at Euston.

Part closure on the Tram

13:31 , Jordan King

Until April 24, there will be no service between Wellesley Road / George Street and Beckenham Junction / Elmers End / New Addington.

Eastbound trams will operate from Wimbledon to Wellesley Road, and westbound trams will operate from George Street to Wimbledon.

DLR part suspended

13:29 , Jordan King

There is currently no service between Bow Church and Pudding Mill Lane due to a track fault at Pudding Mill Lane - good service on the rest of the line.

District line part suspended

13:28 , Jordan King

There is currently no service between Turnham Green and Richmond due to a faulty train at Kew Gardens - good service on the rest of the line.

Euston disruption to last until at least 3pm

12:48 , Josh Salisbury

The expected time for major disruption at Euston Station has been extended yet again - this time to 3pm.

Lines have now re-opened, but many trains were cancelled as engineers fixed the signalling issue between Milton Keynes and Watford.

Euston chaos leaves passengers stranded

11:57 , Josh Salisbury

Passengers have shared pictures of a blank departures board at Euston amid widespread cancellations.

One said on social media: “Euston train station was created by god as a punishment for humanity’s sin.”

Another added: “This is beyond farcical, I got stuck yesterday evening for ages in Euston because of signal failure and now I'm delayed on my way back to London because of another failure!”

Major Euston disruption now expected until 2pm

11:40 , Josh Salisbury

Major disruption at Euston for the second day running is now expected to last until at least 2pm.

This is because trains have to run at a reduced speed on all lines after a fault with the signalling system.

Passengers are being warned trains may be delayed by as much as two hours, or cancelled.

Major east London road closed off after stabbing

11:08 , Josh Salisbury

Road closures are in place on a major east London road after a 51-year-old man was stabbed early on Wednesday.

The victim was found with knife injuries in Hackney Road shortly after 1.30am on Wednesday morning.

Road closures remain in place as police deal with the scene.

Read more here.

Train disruption in south London after car hits bridge

10:43 , Josh Salisbury

Trains running through the Tulse Hill area have been delayed after a vehicle struck a railway bridge.

Lines were temporarily closed as engineers inspected the damage but have since reopened at a reduced speed.

Southern and Thameslink services running through the area are affected, with passengers being warned to plan for up to half-an-hour of delays.

The affected area where train delays could occur as a result (Southern)
The affected area where train delays could occur as a result (Southern)

Major rail disruption later this week over strike

09:51 , Josh Salisbury

Train drivers will launch an overtime ban tomorrow ahead of a series of fresh strikes which will cause travel chaos for passengers.

The overtime ban is from Thursday to Saturday and for 48 hours from next Monday which is likely to cause delays and cancellations to services.

A strike on Friday will hit Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands and London Northwestern.

Meanwhile, on Saturday train drivers will walk out on Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, LNER, Heathrow Express, Northern and TransPennine Express.

Find out more details here.

Lines reopen after Euston fault but disruption to continue

09:20 , Josh Salisbury

Railway lines near Euston Station have reopened after engineers fixed the problem, but major disruption will continue.

Passengers are being told to expect “major” disruption until 12noon, while some lingering disruption will last for the rest of the day.

Ticket acceptance is in place for Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway passengers looking to use other services to get to their destination - details here.

Euston to see 'major' disruption for rest of day

08:53 , Josh Salisbury

National Rail has now said Euston Station will see “major” disruption for the rest of the day.

Delays of up to 80 minutes are now being warned, because a fault with the signalling system between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction means that trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.

This is affecting the Avanti West Coast mainline and London Northwestern services.

Heavy traffic on M25

08:14 , Josh Salisbury

There is heavy traffic on M25 clockwise from J5 M26 / A21 (Sevenoaks) to J6 A22 (Godstone), according to traffic monitoring websites.

The congestion stretches past Clacket Lane Services.

Elsewhere on the M25, there is slow traffic anticlockwise from J17 A412 Denham Way (Maple Cross) to J16 M40.

Part closure of Nothern Line continues

07:54 , Josh Salisbury

The part-closure of the Northern Line is continuing today, and will last until next Thursday (April 11).

It means there is no service between Golders Green and Edgware, which TfL says is due to planned engineering works. Replacement buses will operate.

Signalling fault could hit Euston services

07:51 , Josh Salisbury

A fault with the signalling system between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction is causing disruption to journeys running between these stations.

National Rail says trains on that route may be cancelled, delayed by up to 40 minutes or revised, with disruption expected until the end of the day.

Avanti West Coast services to and from Euston may be hit as a result, as well as London Northwestern Railway services.

Severe delays on London Overground

07:40 , Matt Watts

London Overground services are facing severe delays between Stratford and Clapham Junction / Richmond due to an earlier faulty freight train at Willesden Junction, Transport for London has said. It reports a good service on all other routes.

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