Chaos at Euston with passengers trapped on trains with 'broken air conditioning' and signal failure

Chaos at London Euston earlier on June 26 following a signal failure
-Credit: (Image: Jo Wiley/X)


Passengers have warned of 'chaos' at London Euston, with people trapped on trains with 'broken air conditioning' as well as a signal failure.

The situation was compounded by a faulty announcement system, meaning rail bosses were not able to fully communicate to commuters about what has happened.

Euston has since posted on X that 'Trains to/from Euston are disrupted this evening due to a fault with our signalling system in Watford' and advised passengers to check online before travelling.

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The post added: 'We’re really sorry to passengers affected.'

The signal failure at Watford Junction is affecting trains using the line between the Midlands and Manchester, with delays expected.

Avanti West Coast is disrupted between London Euston and Wolverhampton, Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly and Edinburgh, the Mail Online reports.

London Northwestern Railway is disrupted between London Euston and Tring, Milton Keynes Central, Birmingham New Street and Crewe.

Lines have now reopened following the points failure at Watford Junction.

Chaos at London Euston earlier on June 26 following a signal failure
Chaos at London Euston earlier on June 26 following a signal failure -Credit:Jo Wiley/X

National Rail has warned that trains through Euston may be cancelled, delayed by up to 40 minutes or revised. The company added on its website that disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Footage taken from inside the station shows hundreds of people standing and looking up at the announcement boards.

One passenger described the station as 'a furnace' and asked station bosses on X: 'Can you turn the air con up? Or turn it on.'

One commuter asked Euston Station on X to explain what had happened to the announcements.

The response stated: 'Hi Josh, we are having issues with the PA system currently, the volume is lower than normal. The station team is supporting with handheld speakers in the meantime.

'Sorry for this, we are working hard on announcements and getting trains moving as soon as possible.'

Another commuter said Euston is 'ridiculously hot and getting overcrowded now and still barely any trains getting out.'

And another said: "Euston to Manchester Avanti service absolute farce. Paid £600 for a first class ticket standing room only with no air conditioning. Just travelled back from France superb service get back to the UK like a third world country. Ridiculous."

And BBC Radio 2 host Jo Wiley was also swept up in the chaos, sharing a photo of hundreds of others with the caption: #euston'.