London travel news LIVE: Multi-vehicle crash on M25 causes six mile traffic jam near Potters Bar as lanes closed
Commuters are facing severe delays on the M25 on Thursday afternoon after two lanes of the motorway were forced to close due to a multi-vehicle crash.
There were long delays clockwise due to the incident on the motorway just after Junction 24 (Potters Bar). Congestion was stretching back around six miles to Junction 22, according to Inrix.
Currently, one lane is closed on the M25 M25 clockwise after J24 A111 Stagg Hill (Potters Bar) because of a stalled vehicle.
It comes after commuters on the same stretch of motorway faced eight-mile traffic jams earlier in the afternoon after two lanes of the motorway were forced to close due to a broken down lorry.Drivers also faced long queues on the M25 on Thursday morning after a crash shut the Dartford Tunnel for an hour.Motorists were also stuck in nine-mile tailbacks on the M25 further north in Essex due to reports of people on the road.
Traffic was queuing before Junction 29 at Romford and back along the A12 Brentwood Bypass.
Passengers on the Tube face further strike disruption with Aslef announcing two one-day walkouts on Monday, April 8 and Saturday, May 4.
The union also announced train drivers at 16 rail companies are to stage a fresh wave of strikes and a six-day overtime ban in a long-running dispute over pay, threatening more travel chaos for passengers across the country.
Follow latest updates below.
Key Points
Avanti West Coast trains to Euston cancelled due to shortage of crew
Thursday 21 March 2024 07:30 , Jacob Phillips
A number of Avanti West Coast train services into London are suffering serious disruption.
Some trains into London Euston have been cancelled due to a shortage of crew.
Delays growing on the M25
Thursday 21 March 2024 07:36 , Jacob Phillips
Travel data site Inrix has warned there is currently nine miles of queuing traffic on the M25 due to people on the motorway.
One lane of the road is closed.
Dartford Tunnel partially blocked
Thursday 21 March 2024 07:51 , Jacob Phillips
A crash at the Dartford Tunnel means the route is currently partially blocked.
Congestion is building after the crash anticlockwise between J1A (Dartford) and J31 (Lakeside / Purfleet).
There is congestion to J3 M20 Swanley Interchange, and back down the A2 to Bluewater.
Traffic stopped at Dartford Tunnel due to collision
Thursday 21 March 2024 07:58 , Jacob Phillips
Traffic has stopped on the A282 northbound at the Dartford Tunnel due to a collision.
National Highways has warned delays are building.
Traffic is currently stopped on the #A282 northbound #DartfordCrossing due to a collision.
Delays are building, please allow extra journey time.
More information to follow. Thank you for your patience. pic.twitter.com/7C3i2PtwJz— National Highways: East (@HighwaysEAST) March 21, 2024
Dartford Tunnel shut
Thursday 21 March 2024 08:02 , Jacob Phillips
The Dartford Tunnel has been shut due to a crash on the M25.
Dartford Tunnel shut for around an hour
Thursday 21 March 2024 08:19 , Jacob Phillips
There are long delays on the M25 anticlockwise after a crash closed the Dartford Tunnel.
Both tunnels were closed for nearly an hour but have since reopened, according to travel data site Inrix.
One traveller complained on X that they were brought to a standstill for half an hour near the crossing.
Typical day at DartfordTunnel #M25 haven't moved for over half and hour 😴 pic.twitter.com/ZquM8jiRzd
— Marc Seager (@Seags06) March 21, 2024
Trains unable to run on Bakerloo Line
Thursday 21 March 2024 08:25 , Jacob Phillips
There is no service between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone on the Bakerloo Line while Transport for London fix a signal failure at Harrow & Wealdstone.
There are minor delays on the rest of the line due to a shortage of trains.
M25 clearing up near Brentwood
Thursday 21 March 2024 08:54 , Jacob Phillips
Heavy traffic remains on the M25 near Brentwood after a group of people were on the motorway earlier on Thursday morning.
Travel data site Inrix has said nine mile tailbacks have cleared up but there is still traffic anticlockwise from Junction 29 (Romford/Basildon) to Junction 28 (Brentwood/Brook Street Roundabout)
Severe delays on the Bakerloo Line
Thursday 21 March 2024 10:23 , Jacob Phillips
Trains are running again on the Bakerloo Line after part of the line was forced to shut while Transport for London fix a signal failure at Harrow & Wealdstone.There are currently severe delays between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone following the incident.
Trains unable to run between Charlton and Lewisham
Thursday 21 March 2024 12:13 , Jacob Phillips
Trains are unable to run between Charlton and Lewisham due to a fault with level crossing barriers.
Southeastern Railway has warned services are diverted via alternative routes and that tickets can be used on the DLR between Lewisham and Greenwich.
Lanes shut on M25 due to stalled truck
Thursday 21 March 2024 13:54 , Jacob Phillips
Drivers on the M25 are facing roughly eight miles of traffic as two lanes were forced to close due to a stalled truck.
The incident happened between Junction 24 (Stagg Hill) and Junction 25 (Great Cambridge Road).
Travel data site Inrix has warned that there is congestion before Junction 23 (South Mimms).
Good service on London Underground
Thursday 21 March 2024 15:35 , Jacob Phillips
There is a good service on all London Underground lines, Transport for London has said.
Long delays on M25 after multi-vehicle crash
Thursday 21 March 2024 16:52 , Jordan King
A multi-vehicle crash has left two lanes closed on the M25, after a multi-vehicle crash clockwise after J24 A111 Stagg Hill (Potters Bar).
Congestion goes back to J22 (St Albans/London Colney) with lanes three and four closed.
M25 congestion goes back for 5.9 miles
Thursday 21 March 2024 17:07 , Jordan King
The delays on the M25, between Junction 24 Stagg Hill (Potters Bar) and Junction 22 (St Albans/London Colney) go back for 5.9 miles.
Alterations to some late night and early morning Southeastern services
Thursday 21 March 2024 17:17 , Jordan King
Today is the second-last day of changes to some late-night Southeastern services.
This is because of planned engineering works.
What this means for tonight/early tomorrow morning:
The 11.07pm London St Pancras International to Ramsgate via Dover service will be replaced by an accessible bus between Dover Priory and Ramsgate.
From 1am until the end of service accessible buses replace trains between Meopham and Gillingham.
The 4.17am Gillingham to Tonbridge service will start from Strood at 4.33am. A replacement bus will leave Gillingham at 3,58am calling at all stations to Strood.
The 12.25am London Victoria to Ashford International service will be diverted and run non stop from Bromley South to Ashford. An additional train will run between Maidstone East and Ashford, departing at 1.27am.
Accessible replacement buses will run between:
Bromley South and Borough Green & Wrotham, calling at all stations except Eynsford and Shoreham.
Borough Green & Wrotham and Ashford International, calling at West Malling, Barming, Maidstone East, Bearsted and Lenham.
West Malling and East Malling minibus shuttle.
Reduced late-night service between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5
Thursday 21 March 2024 17:23 , Jordan King
The Heathrow Express will be affected by planned engineering works later tonight.
The following services will run:
Trains from London Paddington:
Normal service will operate until 9.40pm
After this there will be a train at 9.55pm, 10.25pm, 10.55pm and 11.25pm.
Trains to London Paddington:
Normal service will operate until 9.57pm.
After this there will be a train at 10.27pm, 10.57pm, 11.27pm and 23.58pm.
Minor delays to the Circle Line
Thursday 21 March 2024 17:48 , Jordan King
There are currently minor delays on the Circle Line while TfL fixes a faulty train at Farringdon.
Minor delays to Hammersmith and City line
Thursday 21 March 2024 17:49 , Jordan King
There are currently minor delays on the Hammersmith and City line while TfL fixes a faulty train at Farringdon.
Minor delays to Metropolitan line
Thursday 21 March 2024 17:50 , Jordan King
There are currently minor delays between Harrow On The Hill and Aldgate southbound only while TfL fixes a faulty train at Farringdon - good service on the rest of the line.
Circle line delays now severe
Thursday 21 March 2024 18:14 , Jordan King
There are currently severe delays on the Circle lin due to an earlier faulty train.
District Line severely delayed
Thursday 21 March 2024 18:14 , Jordan King
There are currently severe delays between Ealing Broadway / Wimbledon / Richmond and Tower Hill eastbound only while TfL fixes a faulty train at Earl's Court.
Hammersmith & City line severe delayed
Thursday 21 March 2024 18:15 , Jordan King
There are currently severe delays to the Hammersmith & City line due to an earlier faulty train.
Metropolitan line delays now severe
Thursday 21 March 2024 18:16 , Jordan King
There are currently severe delays between Harrow On The Hill and Aldgate southbound only due to an earlier faulty train - good service on the rest of the line.
Circle line delays back to minor
Thursday 21 March 2024 19:09 , Jordan King
Circle line delays were severe earlier this evening, because of an earlier faulty trains, but they are now minor again.
Metropolitan line delays now minor
Thursday 21 March 2024 19:09 , Jordan King
The delays between Harrow On The Hill and Aldgate are now minor, with a good service on the rest of the line.
District line delays now minor
Thursday 21 March 2024 19:10 , Jordan King
There are currently minor delays between Barking and Upminster due to an earlier faulty train at Earl's Court.
Hammersmith & city line no longer delayed
Thursday 21 March 2024 19:12 , Jordan King
The Hammersmith & City line has returned to running a good service.
Minor delays to Piccadilly line
Thursday 21 March 2024 19:32 , Jordan King
There are currently minor delays between Acton Town and Heathrow Terminals due to train cancellations - good service on the rest of the line.
No late night / early morning trains via Seven Sisters
Thursday 21 March 2024 19:53 , Jordan King
Engineering work is taking place between London Liverpool Street and Cheshunt, closing all lines via Tottenham Hale overnight until Friday morning.
The routes affected are Greater Anglia/Stansted Express services via Tottenham Hale.
Between 11:20pm and 05am each night, trains that usually run via Tottenham Hale will be amended to run via Seven Sisters, extending journey times.
All Tube lines returned to good service
Thursday 21 March 2024 21:11 , Jordan King
All the Tube lines that were delayed are now running a good service.
Good night
Thursday 21 March 2024 21:16 , Jordan King
That concludes The Evening Standard’s coverage for today, check back in with us tomorrow!