London travel news LIVE: Chaos at London Bridge and Charing Cross due to trespasser on line

Rush hour commuters have faced a difficult journey home on the trains after a trespasser at Charing Cross caused chaos.

Pictures published online show long queues of commuters at London Bridge after trains were diverted when the power to the railway between Waterloo East and Charing Cross was switched off.

There were also delays on the London Overground as well as the Piccadilly, Victoria, Bakerloo and Central lines on the tube as the evening rush-hour got underway on Thursday.

The Central Line continues to suffer delays due to an ongoing shortage of trains, while a signal failure at Kensal Green is causing minor issues on the Bakerloo Line.

Elsewhere there were delays on the A1 Holloway Road southbound, near Drayton Park, due to a crash.

Live updates below.

Good morning

Thursday 29 February 2024 08:35 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Good morning, and welcome to the Standard’s travel live blog.

Throughout the day, we’ll be bringing you updates on all the issues affecting trains, the London Underground, and roads across the capital.

Signal failure affecting trains to and from London, including Stansted Express

Thursday 29 February 2024 08:38 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Stansted Express and Greater Anglia service are being affected by a signal failure at Harlow Town this morning.

Trains running through Harlow Town - including services between Cambridge and Liverpool Street, Bishops Stortford and Stratford, and Stansted Express services between Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport - are affected by the disruption.

Services are being delayed and cancelled.

Greater Anglia trying to arrange rail replacement buses

Thursday 29 February 2024 08:39 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Greater Anglia says on X, formerly, Twitter, it is “trying to source rail replacement buses to operate between Broxbourne and Stansted Airport”.]

The rail operator’s website shows at least 19 services have been cancelled this morning.

Teams working on-site to fix issue

Thursday 29 February 2024 08:43 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Network Rail response teams have arrived on site and are investigating the signalling issue, National Rail has said.

It’s given no timeframe for the repairs. Its website currently says: “Disruption is expected until further notice.”

Which services are affected by the issues this morning?

Thursday 29 February 2024 08:46 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The following services are subject to cancellations and delays this morning, due to the ongoing signalling issue at Harlow Town:

• Cambridge to London Liverpool Street

• Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street

• Bishops Stortford and Stratford

The services are being affected in both directions.

Severe delays on Overground due to trespasser

Thursday 29 February 2024 09:10 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

TfL says severe delays are now affecting the London Overground.

A trespasser on the line near Leyton Midland Road is causing delays between Gospel Oak and Leyton Midland Road.

There’s still a good service on the rest of the Overground.

'Limited number' of rail replacement buses now running

Thursday 29 February 2024 09:19 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

National Rail says: “A limited number of rail replacement buses have been sourced to operate between Broxbourne and Stansted Airport.”

Marylebone services disrupted by landslip

Thursday 29 February 2024 09:40 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Chiltern Railways urges passengers travelling between London Marylebone and Aylesbury via Amersham in Buckinghamshire to check their journeys following a landslip.

Around 5,000 tonnes of material slipped along a 20 metre section of railway embankment onrth of Stoke Mandeville station on Tuesday, following heavy rainfall.

To complete repair work Network Rail engineers need to close both tracks between Aylesbury and Amersham stations continuously from Friday to Monday (March 1-4).

The track is also closed today ahead of the repairs, meaning Chiltern Railways is running a reduced timetable.

“While the railway is closed, passengers are being advised about major changes to journeys between London Marylebone and Aylesbury via Amersham with buses replacing all trains between Amersham and Aylesbury Vale Parkway stations,” said Network Rail in a statement.A rail replacement bus service will be in operation between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Amersham while the line is closed.

Severe delays on Overground end

Thursday 29 February 2024 09:42 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Earlier severe delays on the Overground caused by a trespasser on the line have been downgraded to ‘minor’ by TfL.

The delays are affecting services between Gospel Oak and Barking Riverside.

Harlow Town fault fixed, but 'severe delays' continue

Thursday 29 February 2024 09:45 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Network Rail has identified and fixed the fault at Harlow Town, meaning trains are now able to run through the station.

“However due to train and crew displacements and severe delays caused, some services may be cancelled or altered at short notice,” says Greater Anglia.

Severe delays hit Circle and Hammersmith & City lines

Thursday 29 February 2024 10:29 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Circle Line (clockwise) and Hammersmith & City Line are being affected by severe delays following “an earlier customer incident at Baker Street”, says TfL.

There are also minor delays on the Metropolitan Line between Moor Park and Chesham, and between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge. Minor delays are also affecting the Jubilee Line westbound.

Disruption to Liverpool Street and Stansted Express trains expected until 11.30am

Thursday 29 February 2024 10:44 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Disruption caused by this morning’s signalling issue at Harlow Town is now expected to last until 11.30am, National Rail says.

The issue has been fixed but there are ongoing delays and cancellations to services.

The routes affected are:

• Stansted Express services between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport

• Greater Anglia trains between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge / Cambridge North / Ely: and also between Stratford and Bishops Stortford

Severe delays on Underground are now over

Thursday 29 February 2024 10:55 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Earlier severe delays on the London Underground have now been downgraded by TfL.

There are now just minor delays on the Central, Jubilee, and Metropolitan lines.

Harlow Town disruption now expected until around 1pm

Thursday 29 February 2024 12:10 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

National Rail is now saying disruption to services through Harlow Town is expected to last until 1pm. It was previously expected to end around 11.30am.

Routes affected are:

• Greater Anglia between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge / Cambridge North / Ely: and also between Stratford and Bishops Stortford

• Stansted Express between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport

Metropolitan Line no longer delayed

Thursday 29 February 2024 12:53 , Jordan King

The Metropolitan Line has returned to running a good service.

Serious delays on A-road in Brent

Thursday 29 February 2024 12:58 , Jordan King

There are serious delays on the A406 North Circular Road (westbound) in Brent, north-west London, with one of three lanes closed for planned Cadent Gas works.

Climate activists stage sit-in at Liverpool Street Station

Thursday 29 February 2024 14:48 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Climate activists are staging a sit-in at Liverpool Street Station.

Climate Justice Coalition said on X the demonstration was being held “in solidarity with Palestine”.

'Long delays' on approach to Blackwall Tunnel following crash

Thursday 29 February 2024 15:58 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

There are reportedly “long delays” on A12 Blackwall Tunnel Approach, due to an earlier crash at Lochnagar Street.

Traffic monitoring system Inrix says all lanes have reopened, but congestion is tailing back to Greenwich on the southern side of the tunnel.

Delays on Holloway Road following crash

Thursday 29 February 2024 16:34 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The A1 Holloway Road is blocked southbound and traffic is queuing due to a crash, according to traffic monitoring service Inrix.

The collision took place near Drayton Park. A detour is in operation.

Overground strikes called off

Thursday 29 February 2024 16:45 , Robert Dex

There is some good news for commuters after strikesplanned for the Overground on Monday and Tuesday next week were called off.

RMT members with Arriva Rail London, which operates the Overground, had planned a walk-out over pay conditions.

London Overground strikes planned for next week called off

Severe delays on the Overground due to 'poor rail adhesion'

Thursday 29 February 2024 17:11 , Robert Dex

Commuters on the London Overground face severe delays between Stratford and Richmond / Clapham Junction due to poor rail adhesion in the Kentish Town West area according to TfL.

Charing Cross trespasser causes train delays

Thursday 29 February 2024 17:19 , Robert Dex

Passengers on Southeastern trains between London Bridge and Charing Cross face delays while staff deal with “a trespasser on the railway”.

Trains are currently not moving on that line.

Train cancellations cause Tube delays

Thursday 29 February 2024 17:32 , Robert Dex

There are delays on the Victoria Line and the Piccadilly Line between Acton Town and Heathrow due to “train cancellations” according to TfL.

Power turned off on rail line after trespasser reported

Thursday 29 February 2024 17:36 , Robert Dex

Rail operators have turned off the power to the line between Waterloo East and Charing Cross because of a trespasser.

Southeastern said: “Trains will be diverted to London Cannon Street or London Victoria where possible.“Some trains will be terminated and restarted at London Bridge.”

Police called to trespasser at Charing Cross

Thursday 29 February 2024 17:38 , Robert Dex

Passengers on the trains affected by the trespasser at Charing Cross have been told they can used their tickets on the Tube, DLR, Elizabeth Line and buses.The police are at Charing Cross to deal with the incident.

Bakerloo Line: Severe Delays

Thursday 29 February 2024 17:55 , Robert Dex

Commuters on the Bakerloo Line face severe delays while while Network Rail fix a signal failure at Kensal Green.

Queueing system put in at London Bridge station to deal with crowds

Thursday 29 February 2024 18:07 , Robert Dex

Travellers have been warned London Bridge station is “very busy” because of the disruption caused by the trespasser at Charing Cross.

Rail company Southeastern said it had “put queuing systems in place so that you can move around the station more easily”.

Trains re-routed after Charing Cross trespass

Thursday 29 February 2024 18:10 , Robert Dex

Trains have been re-routed because of the trespasser at Charing Cross.

Southeastern said trains to Maidstone East will start at London Victoria, trains to Hayes will start at London Bridge and trains to Hastings/Tonbridge will start at Cannon Street or Victoria.

Commuters face 'chaos' at London Bridge

Thursday 29 February 2024 18:17 , Robert Dex

Commuters have described “chaos” at London Bridge after a trespasser shut down Charing Cross.

Pictures posted online showed queues of commuters in the station.

No trains have left Charing Cross for an hour

Thursday 29 February 2024 18:30 , Robert Dex

No trains have left Charing Cross for an hour, according to the managing director of Southeastern Railway.

Steve White said the British Transport Police were “on site working to resolve”.

He added: “Services will be diverted where possible to keep customers moving.”

Disruption caused by trespasser to last until 8.15pm

Thursday 29 February 2024 18:45 , Robert Dex

Southeastern have issued an update saying that due to the trespasser at Charing Cross trains running to and from the station could be cancelled or delayed by up to 90 minutes.

They said: “Major disruption is expected until 20:15.”

Power coming back on at Charing Cross after trespasser is apprehended

Thursday 29 February 2024 19:02 , Robert Dex

Southeastern said power for the rail line is being turned back on after the trespasser at Charing Cross was apprehended.

Trains now running in and out of Charing Cross but delays expected for the rest of the night

Thursday 29 February 2024 20:20 , Robert Dex

Trains are now running between Charing Cross and London Bridge after delays caused by a trespasser on the line.

Southeastern said it expects “ delays until end of service due to the amount of delays we have across the network”.

This is the end of tonight's coverage

Thursday 29 February 2024 20:29 , Robert Dex

Thank you for reading.