London transport news LIVE: Latest Tube updates as LNER, Greater Anglia and c2c services hit by train strike

Aslef train drivers are on strike at a number of operators on Friday  (PA Wire)
Aslef train drivers are on strike at a number of operators on Friday (PA Wire)

Several London commuters rail services are being hit with a fresh strike by train drivers in their long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

Members of Aslef at Greater Anglia, c2c and LNER are walking out for 24 hours following similar action at other train operators earlier this week.

Strikes will also be held on Saturday and next Monday against different companies, causing fresh travel chaos for passengers.

Union members at all the English train operators involved in the dispute are also banning overtime until early next week, which is leading to cancellations.

Passengers are being advised to check before they travel, with some areas having no trains and others only limited services and starting later and finishing earlier than usual.

c2c is not running any services on Friday.

LNER said it will run more than 30 services between London, Edinburgh and West Yorkshire, equivalent to around a fifth of its usual timetable.

Greater Anglia said a “very limited” service will operate on Friday on only five of its main routes and, with the exception of the Stansted Express service, for a limited period.

Apart from the Stansted Express, these services will start much later and will finish earlier than normal.

Meanwhile, Tube commuters were facing severe delays on the Central Line, partial suspension on the Bakerloo Line and minor delays on the Piccadilly, Metropolitan and District Lines with a good service being reported on other lines.

Follow latest updates below...

Key Points

  • What lines are affected by Aslef strikes today?

  • Central Line severely delayed again

  • What you need to know if you're flying to or from Stansted Airport this weekend

Good morning

07:12 , Jordan King

Good morning and welcome to The Evening Standard's London travel blog.

Stay with us for live updates on what is happening on links around the capital.

What lines are affected by Aslef strikes today?

07:15 , Jordan King

Aslef drivers who work for c2c, Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express) and LNER will walk out today.

This is the third day of the union's walkout, which is happening during an overtime ban as well.

If you use c2c trains:

07:20 , Jordan King

There will be no c2c trains running at all today.

Tomorrow, when the line will be affected by the overtime ban, will see a reduced service until February 6.

You can check your specific journey here.

If you use Greater Anglia trains:

07:23 , Jordan King

Today's walkout will mean:

  • A reduced service will operate between Norwich, Cambridge, Colchester, Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street and also between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street

  • No services will be running on other lines, including regional / branch lines

  • First trains of the day start later and last trains finish earlier than normal

Tomorrow's first trains may also start later than usual as a knock-on effect to today's industrial action.

If you're flying to or from Stansted Airport today or this weekend:

07:27 , Jordan King

The Stansted Express is running the following reduced service today:

  • 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

Tomorrow first trains of the day will start later than usual but trains will depart from Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street around every 30 minutes.

You can check your specific train on the Stansted Express's train times tool.

If you use LNER trains:

07:29 , Jordan King

LNER is operating a reduced timetable today.

First and last services will be earlier and later than usual.

You can check your journey here.

Central Line severely delayed

07:32 , Jordan King

The Central Line is severely delayed due to a shortage of trains again.

Minor delays to the Hammersmith and City Line

07:33 , Jordan King

The Hammersmith and City Line is facing minor delays due to train cancellations.

There is a good service on all other lines.

Southeastern trains currently unable to run between Stratford international and Ebbsfleet International

07:38 , Jordan King

The disruption has been caused by a fault with the signalling system. Engineers have been called and are en-route.

Southeastern trains now able to run between Stratford international and Ebbsfleet International but still disrupted

07:40 , Jordan King

Trains that were disrupted because of a fault with the signalling system are now running again but disruption is expected to continue until 8.30am.

Piccadilly Line facing minor delays

08:23 , Jordan King

There are minor delays between Acton Town and Uxbridge due to a shortage of trains.

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

Hammersmith & City Line back to good service

08:24 , Jordan King

The Hammersmith & City Line is no longer delayed.

If you are planning to travel from Ashurst to London

08:29 , Jordan King

Due to urgent repairs to a bridge at Ashurst, trains will not be calling at Ashurst station in the direction towards Oxted/London until at least Monday 5 February.

Alternatively, you can take a train service to Uckfield, the train will turn-around and make the Oxted-bound return service where you can connect with London Victoria trains at Oxted.

Disruption to trains between Stratford international and Ebbsfleet International now cleared

08:30 , Jordan King

These Southern lines were delayed because of an earlier fault with the signalling system, but this has cleared up now.

TfL aims to have half of all Tube stations with step-free access

08:52 , Jordan King

A raft of more than 80 upgrades to make the capital’s Tube and bus network more accessible has been announced by Transport for London (TfL).

The measures include installing mini ramps that cover the gap between a platform and train at some London Underground stations. Some stations are labelled "step-free from street to train" but still have the small gap.

The improvements are set out in a new plan launched today.

Read more here.

Disruption to South Western Railway trains

10:38 , Jordan King

A signalling problem is affecting the railway between Wool and Dorchester South. Trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised because of this problem.

Disruption is expected until 1pm.

If you're planning a Great Western Railway journey this weekend:

10:41 , Jordan King

Great Western Railway has engineering planned for this weekend.

You can see more details here.

Minor delays on the Metropolitan Line

11:14 , Jordan King

There are minor delays between Wembley Park and Harrow-on-the-Hill while TfL is fixing a points failure at Wembley Park.

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

Train broken down at Farringdon station

12:05 , Jordan King

A Thameslink train has broken down at Faringdon station, delaying services towards St Albans.

You can check if your journey has been affected with this live map.

Planned overnight closures on the M20

12:08 , Jordan King

There are some planned closures on the M20 tonight - for resurfacing.

  • Tonight – London-bound j13 to j12

  • Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - coastbound j7 to j8

The closures will be in place from 8pm and 6am each night.

Will Aslef strikes affect you this weekend?

12:15 , Jordan King

Tomorrow will see Aslef drivers walk out on the following lines:

  • Avanti West Coast

  • East Midlands Railway

  • London Northwestern Railway

  • West Midlands Railway

The overtime ban will simultanesously hit:

  • Gatwick Express

  • Great Northern

  • Northern

  • South Western Railway (including Island Line)

  • Southern

  • Thameslink

  • TransPennine Express

If you're planning to use a Gatwick Express service tomorrow:

12:17 , Jordan King

The overtime ban is taking place at the same time as planned engineering works, so Gatwick Express has told customers to expect cancellations.

Tweets by GatwickExpress

If you're planning to use a Great Northern or Thameslink line this weekend:

12:22 , Jordan King

Tomorrow will see a revised timetable in place throughout the day, while there will be "an extremely limited service" on Sunday.

Thameslink on Saturday:

  • Hourly between Peterborough to Stevenage only - you will need to change trains at Stevenage for trains to and from London

  • Hourly between London Bridge and Horsham via Redhill

Thameslink and Great Northern on Sunday:

Neither line will run between:

  • Kings Cross and Peterborough

  • Kings Cross and Royston

  • Cambridge and King’s Lynn

This will mean there will be no service for any stations between Stevenage and Peterborough/Cambridge/King’s Lynn, as well as no service at Welwyn North or Knebworth, for the whole day.

Minor delays on the District Line

12:25 , Jordan King

There are minor delays between Earl's Court and Ealing Broadway due to train cancellations. There is a good service on the rest of the line.

Bakerloo Line partially suspended

14:23 , Jordan King

There is no service between Lambeth North and Elephant & Castle while we fix a track fault at Elephant & Castle and there are minor delays on the rest of the line.

More Tube delays

15:30 , Robert Dex

TFL also reported "minor delays" on the Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines.

Travellers on the Central Line were told to expect "severe delays" due to a shortage of trains.

Train firm warns of strike action hitting services

17:01 , Robert Dex

Great Northern which runs trains from London to destinations including Cambridge and Peterborough said it would run a revised timetable on Saturday and "no service" on Sunday because of the Aslef industrial action.

Coverage ends

21:09 , Robert Dex

This is the end of our coverage today. Thanks for reading