London travel news LIVE: Multiple train lines disrupted after damage to overhead wires near Shepherd's Bush

Jordan King

24 April 2024 at 1:34 pm·11-min read

Southern trains have been badly affected (PA Archive)

Three different train lines have been disrupted because of damage to the overhead electric wires between Shepherd’s Bush and Watford Junction.

Trains running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed or terminated and started back from Shepherd's Bush.

The operators affected are Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway and Southern, with disruption expected until the end of the day.

It comes after emergency services had to respond to reports a person had been struck by a train between Kingston and Teddington.

The incident meant all lines in the area had to be closed, as power had to be shut to allow emergency workers access to the railway, but these have now re-opened and South Western Railway trains are now running as normal.

Meanwhile, there was significant congestion to traffic in central London, with at least one major road closed, after multiple horses bolted through Aldwych.

This has now cleared up, with traffic monitoring site Inrix no longer reporting any resulting congestion.

Follow latest updates below...

Southern trains not calling at three London stations:

12:09 , Jordan King

Southern trains which would run between East Croydon and Watford Junction or Hemmel Hempstead will instead be revised to run between East Croydon and Shepherd's Bush.

They are not calling at:

Wembley Central
Harrow & Wealdstone
Watford Junction

You should expect your journey to be up to 45 minutes longer than usual.

This is because of the damage to the overhead power lines north of Shepherds Bush.

Live coverage ends

20:10 , Josh Salisbury

Thank you for joining us for today’s coverage of London travel news.

We will be back tomorrow with all the latest developments affecting commuters.

Overground disruption now resolved

18:09 , Josh Salisbury

Earlier disruption on the Overground has now been resolved.

Passengers had earlier been warned of delays on the Richmond / Clapham Junction to Stratford route due to a signalling failure.

Disruption on Overground expected until 5pm

16:03 , Josh Salisbury

Overground services between Richmond / Clapham Junction and Stratford will be disrupted until at least 5pm.

National Rail says this is due to an earlier signalling fault at Stratford.

London Overground services to / from Stratford may be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised.

No service on Bakerloo this weekend

15:43 , Josh Salisbury

As a reminder, there will be no service on the Bakerloo Line this weekend (April 27 and 28).

TfL says the lack of service will affect the entire line.

Lines to Surbiton no longer blocked

15:16 , Jordan King

We told you earlier about how a points failure between Woking and Weybridge blocked all lines towards Surbiton, disrupting multiple South Western Railway trains.

Lines have now re-opened and trains are running are running as normal.

London Overground delays now minor

15:07 , Jordan King

The delays between Stratford to Richmond and Clapham Junction (due to an earlier signal failure at Camden Road) are now minor - this disruption was severe before.

Good service on the rest of the line.

Shepherds Bush disruption now expected until end of day

12:57 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The disruption affecting Avanti, London Northwestern Railway, and Southern train services this afternoon is now expected to last until the end of today.

Damage to the overhead electric wires between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction / Shepherds Bush means trains running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes, or revised, says National Rail.

There are fewer trains running to Euston as a result of the disruption.

Disruption to London Overground expected until 3pm

12:45 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

A signalling fault at Stratford means London Overground services are expected to be disrupted until 3pm.

Services between Richmond/Clapham and Stratford are affected, and may be cancelled, delayed or revised, says National Rail.

TfL is currently reporting “severe” delays.

Congestion on M25 near Epsom clearing up

11:46 , Jordan King

We told you earlier about how a lane had to be shut on the M25 clockwise - between J8 (Reigate / Redhill) and J9 (Leatherhead / Epsom) for a vehicle to be revovered.

The congestion caused by this is now clearing up, with normal traffic conditions expected soon.

Serious crash on Upper Richmond Road

11:32 , Jordan King

The A205 Upper Richmond Road has been closed both ways between Milton Road and Waitrose because of a serious crash.

It has caused heavy congestion to Roehampton Lane back past Barnes Common, and diverting through Mortlake between Barnes Bridge and Chalkers Corner.

This has caused a detour for several buses - number 33, 337 and 493.

London Overground now delayed instead of suspended

11:29 , Jordan King

There are currently severe delays between Stratford to Richmond and Clapham Junction due to a signal failure at Camden Road.

Earlier, it was suspended between Wandsworth Road and Clapham Junciton (due to an obstruction on track at Clapham Junction).

Good service on the rest of the line.

Lane shut on M25 near Epsom

10:56 , Jordan King

A lane has been closed on the M25 clockwise - between J8 (Reigate / Redhill) and J9 (Leatherhead / Epsom).

This is for vehicle recovery.

Traffic-monitoring site Inrix is showing congestion in the area but nothing severe yet.

M25 near Enfield no longer delayed

10:49 , Jordan King

We told you earlier about two-mile tailbacks - from J24 A111 Stagg Hill (Potters Bar) to J23 A1M (South Mimms) - caused by a stalled lorry.

Lanes had re-opened before 10am but disruption was still in place for a little under an hour.

This is no longer the case, with Inrix reporting clear roads.

Severe delays to London Overground

10:41 , Jordan King

There are currently severe delays between Stratford to Richmond and Clapham Junction due to a signal failure at Camden Road - good service on the rest of the line.

Northern line no longer delayed

10:41 , Jordan King

The Northern line has returned to running a good service.

Buckingham Palace Road no longer closed but traffic still delayed

10:35 , Jordan King

We told you earlier about how Buckingham Palace Road was closed amid the chaos caused by horses bolting through central London.

The road has seemingly re-opened, according to traffic monitoring site Inrix, but there is still a lot of congestion to roads in the area.

Minor delays to Northern line

10:23 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays between High Barnet and Camden Town southbound only due to train cancellations - good service on the rest of the line.

Trains to Alexandra Palace delayed

10:22 , Jordan King

Great Northern trains between Potters Bar and Alexandra Palace are currently disrupted because of a points failure.

Trains could be delayed or cancelled until at lest 11am.

London Waterloo train disruption expected until the end of the day now

09:53 , Jordan King

Multple South Western Railway trains are delayed and cancelled after reports a person being struck by a train between Kingston and Teddington earlier this morning.

The disruption caused by this was expected to last until 10am but National Rail has now said it will likely be the case for the rest of the day.

Buckingham Palace Road closed amid chaos caused by horses bolting through central London

09:47 , Jordan King

The road is closed along the A3214 Buckingham Palace Road Southbound between A302 Victoria Street and Grosvenor Gardens / Lower Belgrave Street.

Traffic monitoring site Inrix says this is because of an “emergency services incident”.

This is likely referring to at least two horses bolting through central London, with one appearing to be covered in blood on Wednesday morning.

One soldier has been injured in the incident after a spooked horse hit a number of vehicles, the Telegraph reports.

Emergency services were spotted on Buckingham Palace Road in Victoria.

The soldier was reportedly lying in the street receiving help near the Clermont Hotel.

Read more about the horce incident here.

Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych (PA Wire)

Two-mile tailbacks on M25 after stalled car

09:42 , Jordan King

Traffic is queuing for two miles on the M25 anti-clockwise - from J24 A111 Stagg Hill (Potters Bar) to J23 A1M (South Mimms).

This is because of disruption caused by a stalled car.

All lanes have reopened but delays are still in place.

All lines to Surbiton blocked

09:27 , Jordan King

A points failure between Woking and Weybridge has blocked all lines towrds Surbiton.

South Western Railways services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised.

The route affected is between London Waterloo and Weybridge / Woking / Alton / Basingstoke.

Disruption is affected until at least 12pm.

Major disruption to trains from London to Birmingham New Street

09:11 , Jordan King

Trains are facing up to one-hour delays after emergency services had to deal with an incident at Birmingham New Street.

Lines have re-opened but disruption is expected until at least 12pm.

The following routes are affected:

Avanti West Coast between Edinburgh / Manchester Piccadilly / Lancaster/ Shrewsbury / Wolverhampton and London Euston, and between Crewe and Birmingham New Street
CrossCountry between York / Leeds and Plymouth, and between Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth / Paignton, and between Nottingham / Leicester and Birmingham New Street, and between Edinburgh / Stansted Airport / Manchester Piccadilly and Bristol Temple Meads
London Northwestern Railway between Liverpool Lime Street / Birmingham New Street and London Euston
Transport for Wales between Holyhead / Chester / Aberystwyth and Birmingham International
West Midlands Railway between Rugeley Trent Valley and Birmingham International, and between Great Malvern and Birmingham New Street, and between Lichfield Trent Valley and Bromsgrove, and between Four Oaks and Redditch, and between Wolverhampton and Walsall

Jubilee line no longer delayed

08:44 , Jordan King

The Jubilee line has returned to running a good service.

London Overground no longer suspend

08:43 , Jordan King

The London Overground has returned to running a good service.

South Western Railway lines to Waterloo re-open but disruption remains

08:40 , Jordan King

South Western Railway train lines between Wimbledon and Teddington have re-opened, after a person was reportedly struck by a train this morning.

But disruption is still expected to remain until at least 10am with trins cncelled, delayed or revised.

Minor delays to Jubilee line

08:21 , Jordan King

There are currently mior delays between Finchley Road and Stanmore northbound only due to an earlier faulty train at Bond Street - good service on the rest of the line.

London Overground part suspended

07:17 , Jordan King

There is currently no service between Wandsworth Road and Clapham Junciton due to an obstruction on track at Clapham Junction - good service on the rest of the line.

Part closure to the Tram for the last time

07:05 , Jordan King

Today is the last day that part of the Tram is shut as part of a planned closure which has been in place since April 29.

There is no service between Wellesley Road / George Street and Beckenham Junction / Elmers End / New Addington.

Eastbound trams will operate from Wimbledon to Wellesley Road, and westbound trams will operate from George Street to Wimbledon.

Delays to multiple train lines because of damage to the overhead electric wires near Shepherds Bush

07:03 , Jordan King

Damage to the overhead electric wires between Shepherds Bush and Watford Junction means trains running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Shepherd's Bush.

Southern trains which would run between East Croydon and Watford Junction or Hemmel Hempstead will instead be revised to run between East Croydon and Shepherd's Bush.

Southern trains will not call at:

Wembley Central
Harrow & Wealdstone
Watford Junction

Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services are also affected.

This disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Disruption to Southern trains serving London Victoria

07:00 , Jordan King

Southern trains which usually call at London Victoria may be delayed or revised because of overrunning engineering works which has blocked all lines between Barnham and Horsham.

Trains which usually run between Bognor Regis, or Southampton Central and London Victoria will instead divert to run via Hove / Brighton.

And trains which usually run between Portsmouth and London Victoria will instead terminate and restart from Barnham.

This disruption is expected until at least 7.30am.

South Western Railway trains to Waterloo cancelled

06:53 , Jordan King

All lines are blocked, after National Rail recieved reports that a person has been struck by a train between Wimbldon and Teddington.

The track has had to be switched off so emergency services can access it, meaning trains serving stations between Kingston and Teddington may be cancelled, delayed or revised.