London travel news LIVE: Commuters brace for weather chaos as Tube faces Northern Line closure double-whammy
London commuters are facing a hellish journey to work on Thursday with a Met Office warning for heavy rain lasting 28 hours.
The alert kicks in at 2am and only expires at 6am on Friday, with forecasters warning of possible flooding and travel delays.
There will also be a series of closures of the top section of the Edgware branch of the Northern line – between Golders Green and Edgware – between April and July to enable the work to be carried out.
The first of these closures will be immediately after the Easter bank holiday weekend, from Tuesday April 2 until Thursday April 11.
It comes as it was revealed that delays and overcrowding have plagued the Central Line nearly every day since Christmas, due to a shortage of trains.
Follow latest updates below...
Good morning
Wednesday 7 February 2024 06:52 , Jordan King
Good morning and welcome to The Standard's London travel blog.
Stay with us for live updates on getting around the capital today.
Disruption to Heathrow services
Wednesday 7 February 2024 06:54 , Jordan King
A fault with a signalling system in the Heathrow area has left some lines blocked.
Disruption is expected until 9am.
Elizabeth Line part suspended
Wednesday 7 February 2024 06:59 , Jordan King
There is no service between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Terminals while TfL fixes a track fault at Heathrow.
There is a good service on the rest of the line.
Metropolitan Line severely delayed
Wednesday 7 February 2024 07:00 , Jordan King
There are severe delays between Rickmansworth and Amersham / Chesham while TfL deals with a faulty train at Rickmansworth.Good service on the rest of the line.
Minor delays on Circle Line
Wednesday 7 February 2024 07:01 , Jordan King
There are minor delays to the Circle Line because of train cancellations.
Circle Line back to good service
Wednesday 7 February 2024 07:06 , Jordan King
The Circle Line is no longer delayed.
Trains on coastal routes may be delayed or cancelled
Wednesday 7 February 2024 07:09 , Jordan King
Southern has warned its customers that coastal routes may be delayed, revised or cancelled - because of the high winds forecast.
You can check your specific journey here.
☔💨 In case you have missed this mornings updates, trains on coastal routes may be subject to minor delays, alterations and cancellations following High Winds in the Forecast 6th - 8th February.
We advice you check before you travel here 👇https://t.co/dduJUBSqMW— Southern (@SouthernRailUK) February 7, 2024
Fallout of 6.46am Southeastern train cancelled
Wednesday 7 February 2024 07:12 , Jordan King
Due to train crew being displaced because of a power supply issue, the 06:46am Maidstone West - St Pancras was cancelled.
ℹ️ INFO: Due to train crew being displaced due to a power supply issue
The 06:46 Maidstone West - St Pancras is cancelled.
We are sorry for the inconvenience this causes. pic.twitter.com/pl5JH6yyXa— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) February 7, 2024
Perivale station has re-opened
Wednesday 7 February 2024 07:14 , Jordan King
The station was closed because of faulty lighting but it is now open and running again.
A3 reopened after road closure last night
Wednesday 7 February 2024 07:17 , Jordan King
The A3 northbound between A272 Bolney and the M23 J11 at PeasePottage is cleared after emergency works had to take place to resurface the road - a collision had resulted in an oil spillage.
CLEARED#A23 northbound between A272 #Bolney and #M23 J11 at #PeasePottage #WestSussex
ROAD OPEN
The overnight emergency roadworks to resurface the road due to a spillage following a collision yesterday have been completed.
No delays. pic.twitter.com/VZ8UwvGTR6— National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) February 7, 2024
Lane closed on M5
Wednesday 7 February 2024 07:51 , Jordan King
Lane one of four is closed on the M25 clockwise between J5 (M26) and J6 (Godstone) due to a broken down vehicle. Recovery is en route to scene. There 30 min delays above normal travel time on the M25 and M26 as a result of this incident.
Good service on the Elizabeth Line again
Wednesday 7 February 2024 07:53 , Jordan King
The Elizabeth Line nis no longer disrupted.
Minor delays on Bakerloo Line
Wednesday 7 February 2024 08:04 , Jordan King
Minor delays due to an earlier faulty train at Baker Street.
Minor delays on Elizabeth Line
Wednesday 7 February 2024 08:05 , Jordan King
There are minor delays between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Terminals due to an earlier track fault at Heathrow.
There is a good service on the rest of the line.
Heathrow lines have reopened
Wednesday 7 February 2024 08:10 , Jordan King
Lines have reopened after urgent repairs to the track in the Heathrow area.
But trains running to/from Heathrow Terminals may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 10 minutes or revised whilst service recovers.
This is expected until 09:30am.
Elizabeth Line severely delayed again
Wednesday 7 February 2024 08:48 , Jordan King
The Elizabeth Line is still being affected by an earlier track fault at Heathrow.
The delays (between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Terminals) had improved earlier, only being classed as minor, but they are back to severe again.
Minor delays to Hammersmith and City Line
Wednesday 7 February 2024 09:28 , Jordan King
These delays are because of train cancellations.
Londoners are UK's most unhappy commuters
Wednesday 7 February 2024 09:46 , Jordan King
Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of those who live in the capital say they hate their journey to work, according to new research.
That compares to just 16 per cent for the rest of the country while more than one in 10, or 11 per cent, of Londoners said their commute left them stressed and 14 per cent said it made them tired.
Commuters have recently been hit by delays and disruptions on the capital’s transport network, including a wave of strikes and shortage of Central Line Tubes.
Read more here.
Central Line passengers hit with delays and overcrowding almost every day since Christmas
Wednesday 7 February 2024 09:54 , Jordan King
Passengers on the Central line have suffered delays and overcrowding due to train shortages virtually every day since the start of December, new figures revealed on Wednesday.
Transport for London said it had warned of delays on the line due to “shortage of trains” on almost 50 days since November.
The problem has been caused by the need to replace clapped-out motors on the line’s 30-year-old trains. At times, fewer than 50 trains have been available – but 78 are needed to run the peak-hours timetable on the Underground’s longest line.
Read more here.
Bakerloo Line back to good service
Wednesday 7 February 2024 09:55 , Jordan King
The Bakerloo Line is no longer delayed.
Minor delays to Circle Line again
Wednesday 7 February 2024 10:30 , Jordan King
There are minor delays due to train cancellations.
Commuters to be hit with deluge of rain towards the end of the week
Wednesday 7 February 2024 10:55 , Jordan King
The Met Office has issued a 28-hour weather warning for London.
The warning covers the whole of the south of England, including London, and lasts from 2am on Thursday to 6am on Friday.
Read more here.
Possible delays to train services between London Paddington and Swansea via Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central
Wednesday 7 February 2024 11:16 , Jordan King
Greater Western Railways has warned customers there is a broken-down train at Swindon, which has blocked some lines.
This means train services between London Paddington and Swansea via Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central may be delayed.
Disruption is expected until 12:30pm.
Heathrow trains now running as normal
Wednesday 7 February 2024 11:22 , Jordan King
Trains are now running as usual following urgent repairs to the track in the HeathrowTerminals area.
London-bound A2 closures next week:
Wednesday 7 February 2024 13:00 , Jordan King
Weeknight closures (8pm-6am) on A2 London-bound:
Mon 12 - Fri 23 Feb: A289 link to A2/M2 J1 & Three Crutches on-slip
Mon 12 - Weds 14 Feb: Bean on-slip & lanes between Ebbsfleet & Bean
Thurs 15 - Fri 23 Feb: Bluewater to Darenth (M25)
Warning issued about congestion at Twickenham this Saturday
Wednesday 7 February 2024 13:07 , Jordan King
South Western Railway has warned travellers that lines will be busy around Twickenham on Saturday, when a rugby game will take place.
Twickenham station car park will be closed and there will be a queuing system.
🏉 On Saturday 10 February there is a rugby match at Twickenham Stadium with kick off at 16:45
🚉 Stations in this area are expected to be busier
🚗 Twickenham station car park will be closed and there will be a queuing system
✅ Plan your journey 👇https://t.co/mBbkFQEmEn— SWR Help (@SW_Help) February 7, 2024
Northern Line station to shut for six months with 10-day Edgware branch part-closure
Wednesday 7 February 2024 14:38 , Jordan King
A Tube station on the Northern line is to close for six months and the line’s Edgware branch will be part-closed for 10 days after Easter, it was announced on Wednesday.
Colindale station will shut on Friday June 7 until December to enable it to undergo a major capacity upgrade that will include providing step-free access.
There will also be a series of closures of the top section of the Edgware branch of the Northern line – between Golders Green and Edgware – between April and July to enable the work to be carried out.
The first of these closures will be immediately after the Easter bank holiday weekend, from Tuesday April 2 until Thursday April 11.
The improvements at Colindale include a larger ticket hall and the installation of a lift to give the station step-free access for the first time. The 1960s entrance will be replaced, the canopy removed and new staircases built.
The station will reopen in December with a temporary pedestrian passageway. The upgrade is due to be completed by autumn 2025.
Read more here.
Circle Line running good service
Wednesday 7 February 2024 15:07 , Jordan King
The Circle Lane is no longer delayed.
Minor delays on the Hammersmith and City Line
Wednesday 7 February 2024 16:03 , Jacob Phillips
There are minor delays on the Hammersmith and City Line due to train cancellations, TfL has said.
Disruption between Paddington and Southall
Wednesday 7 February 2024 16:55 , Jacob Phillips
Trains may be cancelled or delayed following a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Southall, National Rail has said.
The Elizabeth Line, the Heathrow Express andGreat Western Railway services have been affected.
Disruption is expected until 5.30pm
Broken down train blocking some routes into London
Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:43 , Jacob Phillips
Trains from Dartford towards London can't run on the Woolwich line and the Bexleyheath line after a train broke down near Slade Green, South Eastern Railway has said.
Another train is en-route to move the broken down train into the depot.
Trains from Paddington running normally again
Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:51 , Jacob Phillips
Trains can run normally again following a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Southall, National Rail has said.
Broken down train no longer blocking routes
Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:03 , Jacob Phillips
Trains are running normally following an earlier broken down train at Slade Green, National Rail has said.
Trains stopped in East London because of trespasser
Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:56 , Jacob Phillips
Trains were brought to a standstill in east London after a trespasser was seen on the line at Rainham.South Eastern Railway said the power to trains was switched off to deal with the incident.
⚠️NEW: Because of a trespasser on the line at #Rainham:
❌Trains are currently at a stand in the area.
⚡The power to trains has been switched off.— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) February 7, 2024
Trains to Stansted Airport disrupted after person hit by train
Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:37 , Jacob Phillips
Lines have reopened after a person was hit by a train between Cambridge and Stansted Airport.
National Rail has warned trains may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised.
Some Greater Anglia services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street are affected as well as between Norwich and Stansted Airport.
Some CrossCountry services to Stansted Airport are also affected.
Disruption is expected until 23:00.
Live coverage ends
Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:57 , Jacob Phillips
Our live coverage has ended. Read all the latest transport news from the Evening Standard here.
