London transport news LIVE: Southern trains halted over 'trespasser' as Central line plagued by more delays

London commuters are facing more travel disruption on Wednesday as severe delays return to the Tube's Central Line and details of fresh train strike disruption on Friday become clear.

Following Tuesday's walkout, services in-and-around London are being spared further strikes on Wednesday as a rolling programme of industrial action targets Northern and TransPennine Express trains.

However a nine-day overtime ban continues meaning operators are running restricted schedules.

Further disruption lies ahead with walkouts at LNER, Greater Anglia and C2C on Friday, at Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railway on February 3 and at Great Western, CrossCountry and Chiltern on February 5.

Follow latest updates below...

Key points:

• Aslef overtime ban hits train schedules

• London commuters brace for more strike disruption later this week

• Central Line severely delayed again

Good morning

Wednesday 31 January 2024 06:42 , Jordan King

Good morning and welcome to The Evening Standard's coverage of London travel news.

Stay with us for all the latest updates throughout the day.

Today is the second day of Aslef's strike

Wednesday 31 January 2024 06:49 , Jordan King

Aslef train drivers have reached the second day of their industrial action to call for better pay and work conditions.

Workers are walking out region-by-reigon until February 5 while an overtime ban is in place until the day after.

Does today's strike action affect you?

Wednesday 31 January 2024 06:50 , Jordan King

The train operators hit by today's industrial action are:

• Northern

• TransPennine Express

If you're planning to use Northern trains today:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 06:53 , Jordan King

There will be no Northern trains operating at all, and no rail replacement buses running either.

Some Northern train stations will also be closed - because of limited staffing and services.

You can see a list of all stations usually served by Northern trains here.

If you're planning to use a TransPennine Express service today or tomorrow:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 06:56 , Jordan King

The operator is not running any services today and has advised customers hoping to use one tomorrow to "plan carefully" because the disruption is likely to have a knock-on effect.

Tomorrow's services may start later and finish earlier than usual.

You can see all the stations usually served by TransPennine Express lines here.

Will today's Aslef strikes affect Londoners?

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:02 , Jordan King

Londoners won't really be impacted by today's industrial action, but disruption will continue from yesterday's strikes which hit train lines serving the capital.

Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern lines will start later than normal this morning.

If you use a Southern service to or from London Victoria:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:05 , Jordan King

Southern journeys are starting later than normal this morning, because of yesterday's strike action.

The operator will run the following services today:

• Brighton – two trains per hour

• Eastbourne / Ore – one train per hour

• Portsmouth / Bognor Regis via Horsham – one train per hour

• Littlehampton via Preston Park– one train per hour

• East Grinstead – one train per hour (two trains per hour in peak)

• Dorking – one train per hour

• Horsham via Dorking – one train per hour

• West Croydon via Crystal Palace – two trains per hour (peak only)

• Epsom Downs via Selhurst – two trains per hour

• London Bridge – two trains per hour

If you use a Southern service to or from London Bridge:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:06 , Jordan King

Southern journeys are starting later than normal this morning, because of yesterday's strike action.

The operator will run the following services today:

• Uckfield – one service in the morning peak, one in the evening peak

• Caterham – one train per hour

• Tattenham Corner – one train per hour

• East Croydon via Tulse Hill & Selhurst – two trains per hour

• Beckenham Junction via Tulse Hill – two trains per hour (peak only)

If you use a Southern service to or from Clapham Junction

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:08 , Jordan King

Southern journeys are starting later than normal this morning, because of yesterday's strike action.

The operator will run one train per hour in and out of Clapham Junction.

See more details about Southern's adjusted schedule today here.

If you use a Thameslink service:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:10 , Jordan King

Thameslink is also still struggling with the fallout of yesterday's industrial action.

Today's scedule is:

• Peterborough and Horsham via Redhill – one train per hour

• Cambridge and Three Bridges via Redhill – one train per hour

• Bedford and Brighton – two trains per hour

• London Blackfriars and Sutton via Wimbledon – two trains per hour

• St Albans City and Sutton via Mitcham Eastfields – two trains per hour

• Luton and Rainham – one train per hour

• London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks – two trains per hour

If you use a Great Northern service:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:12 , Jordan King

Like other lines hit by yesterday's mass walkout, Great Northern is running a slightly different schedule today:

• London King’s Cross and King’s Lynn – one train per hour, rising to two trains per hour during peak

• London King’s Cross and Peterborough – one train per hour (peak only)

• London King’s Cross and Cambridge – one train per hour

• Moorgate and Welwyn Garden City – two trains per hour

• Moorgate and Stevenage via Hertford North – two trains per hour

If you use a South Western line:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:15 , Jordan King

South Western said "services will largely run to normal timetables" but added that "short notice alterations and cancellations are possible".

Separeately, operator has reported that there is currently a line closure between Eastleigh and Fareham

You can check live updates on the status of your South Western train here.

If you use a Southeastern line:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:17 , Jordan King

Southeastern said it is running a full service today.

It is currently reporting a good service on all trains.

You can check the specific status of your Southeastern train here.

Minor delays on the Central Line

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:18 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays on the Central Line due to a shortage of trains.

Good service on all London Tube lines except Central

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:19 , Jordan King

The Central Line is the only one facing delays, with TfL reporting a ood service on all others.

Preston Road Underground station closed

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:23 , Jordan King

Preston Road Underground station is partially closed - northbound trains are not stopping at Northwick Park and Preston Road due to a points failure.

You can get around this by travelling to travelling to Harrow-on-the-Hill and returning on a southbound train.

Kentish Town Underground station still closed

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:24 , Jordan King

Kentish Twon Undergound station will stay closed until mid 2024 while escalators are replaced.

The National Rail (Thameslink) station remains open.

Trains calling at Stamford Hill again

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:28 , Jordan King

Trains are now able to service Stamford Hill again, after a power cut meant they were unable to earlier this morning.

Tooting Broadway Underground station has reopened

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:30 , Jordan King

The station was closed because of an earlier track fault this morning, but it has now reopened.

Covent Garden Underground station has reopened

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:31 , Jordan King

The staion was closed because of the unavailability of station staff earlier this morning but it is now open again.

Northern Line no longer delayed

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:37 , Jordan King

The Northern Line was delayed between Stockwell and Morden (because of track faults) but it is now running a good service.

Central Line is now severely delayed

Wednesday 31 January 2024 07:39 , Jordan King

The Central Line is severely delayed - again - because of an ongoing shortage of trains.

Read more about the chronic issues with London's busiest line here.

Planned engineering works are taking place on the South Western Railway network this weekend

Wednesday 31 January 2024 08:14 , Jordan King

Engineering work on the South Western Railway network is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. where you may have to use rail replacement buses.

You can check if your journey is affected here.

Are there more strikes tomorrow?

Wednesday 31 January 2024 08:29 , Jordan King

Aslef is not planning any walkouts tomorrow but an overtime ban is still in place until February 6.

This will impact individual train operators differently, check their websites for updates.

If you have a flight booked to or from Stansted Airport on Friday or Saturday:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 08:35 , Jordan King

The Greater Anglia line, which runs the Stansted Express, will be hit by walkouts on Friday.

The operator will be running the following reduced service:

• Trains from Stansted Airport - hourly service, from 05.50am to 11.45pm

• Trains from London Liverpool Street - hourly service, from 04.40am and 11.25pm

Friday's disruption means trains on Saturday may start later than usual.

You can check Stansted Express's website for the most up to date information but its train times tool is currently showing incorrect schedules - we will let you know when this changes.

'Lane closed' on road in Earl's Court after yesterday's bus crash

Wednesday 31 January 2024 08:59 , Jordan King

A lane on Finborough Road, in Earl's Court, west London, is still losed after a route 328 bus crashed into a building yesterday morning, according to traffic monitoring site INRIX.

Read more about the bus accident here.

Long delays with one lane closed on M25

Wednesday 31 January 2024 09:03 , Jordan King

A lane has been closed after a truck stalled on the M25, anticlockwise after J11 A320 St Peters Way (Chertsey).

Conjestion is backed up to J13 Staines, past the M3, according to traffic monitoring site INRIX.

A tow truck has just arrived, we will let you know when this traffic clears up.

Thameslink and Southern trains disrupted

Wednesday 31 January 2024 09:36 , Jordan King

Lines between Horsham and Three Bridges, in West Sussex, were blocked because of a trespasser on the tracks.

Although they have now reopened, Thameslink and Southern Railway has told customers to check their routes and prepare to add up to 20 minutes to their journeys.

You can look through journey planners here.

It is not yet clear whether this disruption has had any knock-on effects on trains serving London, we have enquired and will let you know.

Some London services disrupted because of trespasser on tracks

Wednesday 31 January 2024 10:33 , Jordan King

We already told you about Thameslink and Southern lines between Horsham and Three Bridges, in West Sussex, being blocked because of a trespasser on the tracks.

Parent company Govia Thameslink Railway has confirmed to The Standard that this has had a fallout effect on some London trains.

Services from Horsham to Peterborough run through central London - so those stops may be delayed while trains into London Victoria from Portsmouth could also be impacted.

The tracks have now been cleared and trains were on the move again within 20 minutes of the British Transport Police leading the trespasser to safety.

Anyone whose journey is delayed by 15 minutes or more can claim Delay Repay compensation at either one of Thameslink's or Southern's websites.

Minor delays on the Northern Line

Wednesday 31 January 2024 10:53 , Jordan King

The Northen Line is facing minor delays between High Barnet and Kennington via Charing Cross and between Edgware and Kennington via Bank because of a point failure.

There is a good service on the rest of the line.

LNER 'will run 20% of its timetable' when Aslef drivers strike on Friday

Wednesday 31 January 2024 10:55 , Jordan King

London North Eastern Railway, which operates long-distance services on the East Coast Main Line, is set to see its Aslef drivers walk out on Friday.

The schedule is reportedly only 20% of LNER's normal services.

The operator said: "A reduced timetable will be in place on our London-Edinburgh and London-Leeds routes and we will be unable to serve many of our usual destinations."

You can check for up to date travel information for LNER here.

If you're travelling between London and Essex on Friday:

Wednesday 31 January 2024 11:06 , Jordan King

Aslef walkouts mean there are no c2c services, which operates the Essex Thameside railway, running at all on Friday.

How will strikes impact Greater Anglia routes on Friday?

Wednesday 31 January 2024 11:10 , Jordan King

The first trains of the day will start later and the last trains will finish earlier than normal.

An hourly train service will operate on the following Greater Anglia routes:

• Norwich/Colchester and London Liverpool Street

• Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street

• Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street

A small number of services will also operate between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street.

Alternatively, Great Northern and Thameslink will be running services between Cambridge and London Kings Cross.

These operators will be impacted by the overtime ban but are not facing full-on walkouts on Friday.

Delays on M25 seem to have cleared up

Wednesday 31 January 2024 11:17 , Jordan King

There were previously long delays after a truck stalled on the M25, anticlockwise after J11 A320 St Peters Way (Chertsey) but disruption is no longer being reported by traffic monitoring site INRIX.

Northern Line no longer delayed

Wednesday 31 January 2024 11:36 , Jordan King

The Northern Line was delayed between High Barnet and Kennington via Charing Cross and between Edgware and Kennington via Bank because of a point failure.

But it is now running a good service again.

Uncertainty hangs over Sadiq Khan's cheap Friday fares trial

Wednesday 31 January 2024 13:26 , Jacob Phillips

City Hall has insisted it remains “very optimistic” that a trial of cheaper Tube and train fares on Fridays will be able to go ahead.

Mayor Sadiq Khan announced on Sunday that he wanted to scrap peak fares on Fridays for three months to encourage more people back to central London.

But private train companies operating services in the capital were only notified of the plan last Friday afternoon and say much work remains to be done before the trial – which will also enable cheaper fares on their services - can go ahead.Read the full story here.

Central line delays 'added 45-60 minutes to what should have been a 20 minute journey'

Wednesday 31 January 2024 14:53 , Jacob Phillips

A central line commuter has described how 45 minutes to an hour was added to their journey as they were unable to get a train between Leytonstone and Epping on Tuesday night.

Instead they said they had to travel to Hainault and get a shuttle bus heading towards Woodford.

Fault with signaling system causing disruption on London Overground

Wednesday 31 January 2024 14:59 , Jacob Phillips

A fault with the signaling system between Sydenham and Crystal Palace is causing disruption on the London Overground, National Rail has said.

Trains running between the stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 10 minutes or revised.

Trespassers on line bring trains to standstill in south east London

Wednesday 31 January 2024 15:07 , Jacob Phillips

Southeastern rail has said trains have been brought to a standstill after reports of trespassers on the line near Belvedere station in south east London.

Trains back on the move after trespassers on the line in south east London

Wednesday 31 January 2024 15:43 , Jacob Phillips

Trains are back on the move in south east London but there may be some delays and alterations, Southeastern rail has said.

Victoria Bus Station could be redesigned after death

Wednesday 31 January 2024 16:58 , Josh Salisbury

"All options are on the table" for a re-design of Victoria bus station, Sadiq Khan has said, after a woman was killed when she was hit by a bus there on Monday.

Catherine Finnegan, 56, died after being struck by a double-decker at a bus stop outside the central London railway station just before 9am.

Transport for London (TfL) is under pressure to alter the area’s layout to improve its safety.

Mr Khan told the Standard: "All options are on the table in relation to making sure we do what we can to keep our city as safe as we can for pedestrians, cyclists, bus users and others as well.

"There is an investigation. One of the things when there’s this sort of investigation is TfL and external experts look at if there are any design issues, look at what has happened in the past."

Read the full story here.

Delays to Southern services over 'trespasser on track'

Wednesday 31 January 2024 17:41 , Josh Salisbury

Southern has said services are delayed between Burgess Hill and Three Bridges amid reports of a trespasser on the track.

It said this means all lines are currently blocked between Three Bridges and Brighton and trains are unable to run for the time being until further notice.

Passengers are being asked to allow for an extra 30 minutes to complete journeys on the following routes:

- Victoria to Brighton (both ways)

- Victoria to Littlehampton (both ways)

- Victoria to Ore (both ways)

Trains cancelled at south London station because lights don't work

Wednesday 31 January 2024 19:08 , Josh Salisbury

A south London station will be closed all evening - because it's lights aren't working.

The lighting issue at Thornton Heath means that no trains are able to call at the station.

Trains running through this station will be cancelled, said Southern.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Lines reopen but major disruption for Southern and Thameslink

Wednesday 31 January 2024 19:45 , Josh Salisbury

All lines have reopened between Three Bridges and Brightonm Southern has said, but major disruption is expected until at least 9pm.

The company said: "Service recovery is ongoing but a large number of trains, and staff, are displaced, and it will be late this evening before advertised timetable is back in place."

Southern services between Brighton - London Victoria; Littlehampton - London Victoria; Ore - London Victoria are affected.

Thameslink services between Brighton - Bedford are also affected.

Live coverage ends

Wednesday 31 January 2024 21:27 , Josh Salisbury

Our live coverage is now ending for this evening. Thank you for joining us.

We will be back tomorrow with all the latest transport and travel disruption coverage.