London travel news LIVE: Lines blocked at Mottingham after Charing Cross train hits tree

A train headed to Charing Cross hit a tree on Thursday evening, leaving the tree stuck under the train which is now unable to move.

This has left the line blocked at Mottingham in both directions until at least 9pm, affecting Southeastern services.

Meanwhile, Heathrow travellers are still facing delays on the Piccadilly Line with train cancellations hitting services.

Transport for London was reporting minor delays between Acton Town and Heathrow as of 8.45pm on Thursday.

On top of all this, a signalling fault at London Waterloo is also causing disruption.

The fault means trains are unable to use Platforms 1 to 4 at the station until further notice, meaning some services may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

The problem re-occurred on Wednesday afternoon and National Rail has warned the disruption will last until the end of the day.

Follow latest updates below...

What you need to know for your commute home this afternoon:

Disruption at London Waterloo expected until midday

Thursday 22 February 2024 06:46 , Jacob Phillips

Trains are expected to be cancelled or revised until 12pm at London Waterloo.

South Western Railway has warned that a track circuit failure which caused issues at the station on Wednesday has re-occurred.

This means that trains are unable to use Platforms 1 to 4 at the station until further notice.

Lines blocked between Watford and St Albans

Thursday 22 February 2024 06:57 , Jacob Phillips

Some lines are blocked between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey as overhead electric wires have been damaged by a fallen tree.

London Northwestern Railway has said trains running between the stations may be cancelled.

Travel advice for London Waterloo disruption

Thursday 22 February 2024 07:02 , Jacob Phillips

Commuters are being told they can use their tickets at no extra cost on the London Underground and buses due to the disruption at London Waterloo.

National Rail says customers can use their tickets on:

• London Underground between London Waterloo and Wimbledon / Richmond / London Paddington via all reasonable routes.

• Southern between London Victoria - Clapham Junction.

• Thameslink between Wimbledon – London Blackfriars / central London in both directions.

• London Buses via any reasonable route between London Waterloo - central London - Clapham Junction – Wimbledon – Kingston -Surbiton.

Minor delays on the Central Line

Thursday 22 February 2024 07:08 , Jacob Phillips

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

Last week Tube insiders warned passengers could face years of chaos due to delays in upgrading clapped-out trains on the line.

Whistle-blowers contacted the Standard to reveal a multitude of “foreseeable” problems on the line caused by years of under-investment.You can read more about the issue here.

Travel could be disrupted by heavy rains and wind

Thursday 22 February 2024 07:24 , Jacob Phillips

The Met Office has warned trains and buses could be disrupted on Thursday due to the weather.

Yellow weather warnings for heavy rain and strong winds are in place covering parts of London.

The forecaster has said strong winds could block tracks and damage power lines while flooding could leave tracks underwater.

Trains may also have to run at slower speeds due to high winds.

All lines closed between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction

Thursday 22 February 2024 07:55 , Jacob Phillips

The London Overground has been part-suspended between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction due to damage to overhead lines.

National Rail has said that Southern services also running between the stations will be disrupted until the end of the day as electric wires have been damaged.

Trains may be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes.

Severe delays on the London Overground

Thursday 22 February 2024 08:48 , Jacob Phillips

Transport for London has said there are severe delays on the London Overground between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction due to earlier power supply problems at Willesden Junction.

There is a good service on other London Overground routes.

Disruption expected at London Waterloo until the end of the day

Thursday 22 February 2024 08:59 , Jacob Phillips

Trains are expected to be disrupted at London Waterloo until the end of the day after a track circuit failure.

Network Rail has said that all trains between Waterloo and Vauxhall will come to a standstill at 9.05am for five to 10 minutes to carry out works to be carried out.

Putney Pier closed due to 'police incident'

Thursday 22 February 2024 09:08 , Jacob Phillips

Uber Boat has warned that Putney Pier has had to close due to a “police incident”.

Good service again on the London Overground

Thursday 22 February 2024 10:25 , Jacob Phillips

Transport for London has said there is a good service on the London Overground again after trains were unable to run between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction due to damage to overhead lines.

Southern has said the line between Shepherds Bush and Watford Junction has been closed to trains using the overhead wires.

The rail operator has asked customers to allow an extra 40 minutes to complete their journeys.

Routes between East Croydon and Watford Junction as well as East Croydon and Hemel Hempstead are affected.

London Underground station closed on Thursday morning after 'assault'

Thursday 22 February 2024 11:09 , Jacob Phillips

Elm Park station was temporarily closed on Thursday morning after someone was assaulted, the British Transport Police has said.

The force told the Standard: “Officers were called to Elm Park undergroundstation at around 9.25am today (22 February) following reports of an individual being assaulted.“Officers attended and the station was temporarily closed. Enquiries into thisincident are ongoing.”

Delays of up to 30 minutes on the London Overground

Thursday 22 February 2024 11:59 , Jacob Phillips

There are severe delays on the London Overground after a train broke down at Denmark Hill.

National Rail has warned trains could be cancelled, delayed by 30 minutes or revised.

Disruption is expected until 12.30pm.

Further severe delays on the London Overground

Thursday 22 February 2024 12:18 , Jacob Phillips

Transport for London has said there are severe delays between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction as well as between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction.

TfL said that the delays were due to earlier faulty freight trains at Shepherd’s Bush and Denmark Hill.

Minor delays on the Piccadilly Line

Thursday 22 February 2024 12:35 , Jacob Phillips

There are minor delays between Acton Town and Heathrow Airport due to train cancellations, TfL has said.

Severe delays on the Overground end

Thursday 22 February 2024 13:29 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

TfL now says there is a good service running across the Overground, following severe delays earlier this afternoon.

Severe delays on the Piccadilly Line

Thursday 22 February 2024 14:03 , Jacob Phillips

There are severe delays between Acton Town and Cockfosters on the Piccadilly Line going east, Transport for London has said.

There are minor delays on the rest of the line.

Severe delays on trains to Heathrow Airport

Thursday 22 February 2024 15:08 , Jacob Phillips

There are currently severe delays between Acton Town and Heathrow Airport on the Piccadilly Line.

TfL has said there are also severe delays on the line between Acton Town and Uxbridge.There are minor delays on the rest of the line due to an earlier signal failure at Earl’s Court.

Lines reopen between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction

Thursday 22 February 2024 15:10 , Jacob Phillips

Lines have reopened between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction, National Rail has said.

Change to Piccadilly Line delays

Thursday 22 February 2024 16:48 , Jordan King

There are still delays between Acton Town and Heathrow Airport, because of train cancellations, but this disruption has been classed as minor now.

However, there are also severe delays between Acton Town and Uxbridge.

Minor delays to Hammersmith and City Line

Thursday 22 February 2024 16:48 , Jordan King

This is because of train cancellations.

Minor delays to Central Line

Thursday 22 February 2024 16:49 , Jordan King

There are minor delays to the Central Line because of the ongoing shortage of trains.

Part closure to Tram again

Thursday 22 February 2024 16:49 , Jordan King

There is no service, with replacement buses running instead, between Reeves Corner and Sandilands.

A recap on the Waterloo disruption if you use the station to get home:

Thursday 22 February 2024 16:55 , Jordan King

A signalling problem at London Waterloo has left trains unable to use Platforms 1 to 3, meaning services may be cancelled or revised.

The following routes are affected:

London Waterloo circular services and also between London Waterloo and Chessington South / Hampton Court / Strawberry Hill / Shepperton / Twickenham / Hounslow / Staines / Weybridge / Windsor & Eton Riverside / Reading / Woking / Farnham / Alton / Guildford / Dorking / Haslemere / Havant / Hilsea / Portsmouth & Southsea / Portsmouth Harbour / Fareham / Southampton Central / Basingstoke / Salisbury / Bournemouth / Poole / Weymouth / Yeovil Pen Mill / Yeovil Junction / Exeter St Davids

The following alterations apply:

• London Waterloo to Shepperton services will be diverted between Clapham Junction and Fulwell, calling additionally at Twickenham and Strawberry Hill.

• Shepperton to London Waterloo services will be diverted between Fulwell and Clapham Junction calling additionally at Strawberry Hill and Twickenham.

• Kingston to London Waterloo services via Strawberry Hill and Richmond will not call at Queenstown Road (Battersea)

You can check your specific journey here. You may also be entitled to compensation, you can apply here.

Delays to District Line

Thursday 22 February 2024 16:57 , Jordan King

There are minor delays between Tower Hill and Earl's Court westbound only while TfL fixes a faulty train at Sloane Square - good service on the rest of the line.

Severe delays to Circle Line

Thursday 22 February 2024 17:56 , Jordan King

There are currently severe delays while TfL deals with a trespasser on the track at Gloucester Road.

Piccadilly Line delays to Heathrow severe again

Thursday 22 February 2024 18:28 , Jordan King

There are severe delays between Acton Town and Uxbridge / Heathrow Terminals due to train cancellations.

These delays were classed as minor earlier this evening but they are back up to severe.

Circle Line no longer delayed

Thursday 22 February 2024 18:38 , Jordan King

The Cirlce Line has returned to running a good service.

Lines blocked at Mottingham

Thursday 22 February 2024 18:58 , Jordan King

A tree blocking the railway at Mottingham, in south east London means train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 9pm.

This is because the 4.18pm Gravesend to Charing Cross service has hit a tree, which is now stuck under the train.

The train will not be able to move until the tree has been removed and train inspected for damage.

Hammersmith and City Line no longer delayed

Thursday 22 February 2024 20:42 , Jordan King

The Hammersmith and City Line has now returned to running a good service.

Minor delays to Metropolitan Line

Thursday 22 February 2024 20:43 , Jordan King

There are minor delays between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge due to train cancellations - good service in the rest of the line.

Piccadilly Line delays are now minor

Thursday 22 February 2024 20:44 , Jordan King

The delays between Acton Town and Uxbridge/Heathrow Terminals are now minor.

Goodnight!

Thursday 22 February 2024 21:21 , Jordan King

That concludes The Standard’s coverage of London travel news today, check in with us tomorrow.