London travel news LIVE: Railway lines reopen after fire sparks Overground, Southern and Thameslink chaos

Railway lines that were shut by a trackside fire in Brockley have reopened after day-long disruption to services on Tuesday.

The blaze brought trains to a standstill between Sydenham and New Cross Gate on Tuesday morning.

Network Rail warned the fire damaged cables that supply electricity to the railway, causing heavy disruption to trains between London Bridge and Crystal Palace.

London Overground services were also partially suspended.

In an update around 5.45am on Wednesday morning, National Rail said the lines had reopened and services were no longer disrupted.

Follow the latest updates below….

Good morning

06:14 , Michael Howie

Our coverage of travel news resumes after a day of major disruption to Overground and some national rail services due to the trackside fire in Brockley.

National Rail has announced that two railway lines shut as a result of the incident have now reopened.

Coverage ends

Tuesday 17 September 2024 21:29 , Matt Watts

That ends our coverage of today’s travel in London. Thanks for joining us.

Advice for passengers affected by track fire chaos

Tuesday 17 September 2024 17:15 , Matt Watts

National Rail have issued advice for passengers after the trackside fire near Brockley.

It says all lines remain closed between Sydenham and New Cross Gate whilst the emergency services attend to the incident.

Major disruption is expected until the end of the day. Her is its advice to affected customers.

Advice for London Overground customers:

Trains are unable to run between West Croydon / Crystal Palace and New Cross Gate.

You may use your ticket on local buses and London Underground via any reasonable route.

Advice for Southern and Thameslink customers:

Major disruption is affecting Thameslink and Southern services that run between London Bridge, Norwood Junction and East Croydon / West Croydon, as well as some local services via Crystal Palace.

Many trains which were due to run in this area will be cancelled, revised or diverted away. Where they do run, they are likely to have severe delays. Please check your journey carefully before you go to the station.

You will need to allow at least 45 minutes of extra time for your journey, and possibly more. This will include journeys to or from either Gatwick Airport or Luton Airport.

If there is a long wait until the next train on your normal route, consider using an alternative, if there is one available. Avoid travelling to or from London Bridge, and use London Victoria instead, if you can.

If you travel on your normal route, you may need to change trains en route (for example, at East Croydon) to get to your destination.

Trains from Clapham Junction delayed by 20 minutes

Tuesday 17 September 2024 15:31 , Jacob Phillips

A fault on a train is currently causing 20 minute delays between Clapham Junction and Wimbledon.

Disruption is expected until 6pm.

Paddington trains still hit by 30 minute waits

Tuesday 17 September 2024 13:34 , Jacob Phillips

Trains between London Paddington and the South West are still delayed by 30 minutes following a casualty on the track this morning.

Lines have reopened following the incident between Swindon and Didcot Parkway but trains may still be delayed, revised or cancelled, National Rail said.

We’re unable to run ‘normal’ service, say Thameslink and Southern

Tuesday 17 September 2024 13:28 , Josh Salisbury

Thameslink and Southern have said they are unable to run a normal service for the afternoon.

In a message to customers, the train companies said: “Earlier this morning we were advised of a significant fire affecting lineside cabling between Norwood Junction and London Bridge.

“This has resulted in several signalling failures and as such we are unable to run a normal service in either direction between East Croydon/Norwood Junction and London Bridge (via Forest Hill/Sydenham) until further notice.

“Network Rail colleagues are on site, and following the Fire Brigade’s successful intervention, they are now replacing the damaged equipment.

“After this, testing will begin to ensure the correct working of the new equipment, with the intention of a slow reintroduction of some services this evening.”

Thameslink cancellations and disruption

Tuesday 17 September 2024 13:08 , Josh Salisbury

A slew of Thameslink trains will also be cancelled or disrupted this afternoon because of the cable fire.

These are:

– Trains between Brighton and Bedford will be diverted between East Croydon and Blackfriars, and won’t stop at London Bridge as a result.- Trains between Horsham and Peterborough will be diverted between East Croydon and Blackfriars. These trains will not stop at London Bridge but will stop at Earlswood and Salfords additionally in both directions.- Trains between Brighton and Cambridge will be cancelled.- Trains between Three Bridges and Bedford (stopping services via Redhill) will be cancelled.- Trains between East Grinstead and Bedford will be cancelled.

Southern details afternoon disruption after cable fire

Tuesday 17 September 2024 12:50 , Josh Salisbury

Southern has said trains from London Bridge will be cancelled this afternoon after a cable fire.

Until 4pm at the earliest, it said:

– Trains between Uckfield and London Bridge will run between Uckfield and East Croydon only, or will be cancelled.

– Trains between Tattenham Corner/Caterham and London Bridge will be diverted via an alternative route between East Croydon and London Bridge.

– Trains between Epsom and London Bridge will be cancelled

– Trains between London Victoria and London Bridge will be cancelled.

Some lines reopen after cable fire – but only for an hour

Tuesday 17 September 2024 12:32 , Josh Salisbury

Some lines will temporarily reopen after a cable fire near Brockley Station.

Some lines between East Croydon and London Bridge will be reopened until half one.

But then peak services on Southern will again divert via Selhurst, meaning they won’t call at London Bridge.

Network Rail says this will last until 4pm.

Line reopens following casualty on track near Didcot Parkway

Tuesday 17 September 2024 11:55 , Jacob Phillips

Trains are able to run again following a casualty on the track near Didcot Parkway, causing long delays on trains between London Paddington and the South West of England and parts of Wales.

There are still 90 minute delays despite the line reopening.

Disruption is now expected until 3pm.

Pictures reveal damage to cables near Brockley

Tuesday 17 September 2024 11:32

Network Rail has told customers it is working as quickly as possible to replace signalling cables following a fire near the tracks by Brockley station.

Pictures show where the fire burnt through a number of important cables. Engineers are hoping to be able to get the railway reopened by Tuesday Evening, Network Rail added.

Firefighters extinguished ‘small fire’ near Brockley station

Tuesday 17 September 2024 10:30 , Jacob Phillips

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has provided further details about a trackside fire in Brockley which is causing major disruption to the capital’s rail network.

A spokesperson told the Standard firefighters extinguished a “small” trackside fire near Brockley station in the early hours of the morning.

The :LFB was called shortly after 4am and had the incident under control over an hour later at 5.11am.

One fire engine from New Cross Fire Station attended the scene.

90 minute delays between Paddington and South West due to ‘casualty on the track’

Tuesday 17 September 2024 10:16

There has been a casualty on the tracks creating long delays between Paddington and the South West of England.

The British Transport Police told the Standard: “Officers were called to the line near Wantage at around 8.28am today (17 September) following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

“Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will beprepared for the coroner.”

National Rail has warned that there are 90 minute delays between Paddington and stations such as Penzance, Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central.

Major disruption between Paddington and south west of England

Tuesday 17 September 2024 09:29

Trains travelling to and from London Paddington have been hit by 90 minute delays due to an emergency between Swindon and Didcot Parkway.

National Rail has warned all lines are blocked between the two stations and there are long delays between Paddington and stations such as Cardiff Central, Bristol Temple Meads and Penzance.

Major disruption is expected until 1pm.

Some lines to London Waterloo blocked

Tuesday 17 September 2024 08:35 , Jacob Phillips

Commuters are facing further issues at rush hour as some lines towards London Waterloo have been blocked due to a fault on a train.

South Western Railway has warned that some trains may be cancelled or delayed due to the issue until 9.30am.

Trackside fire ‘safely extinguished’ says LFB

Tuesday 17 September 2024 08:29 , Jacob Phillips

The London Fire Brigade has said that a trackside fire near Brockley Station broke out shortly after 4am on Tuesday.

The LFB said the fire has been safely extinguished but major disruption is still expected until the end of the day.

Major disruption to trains in south London until the end of the day

Tuesday 17 September 2024 08:10 , Jacob Phillips

Train services in south London will be heavily disrupted until the end of the day, National Rail has warned.

All lines remain closed between Sydenham and New Cross Gate while the emergency services attend to a fire on the railway near Brockley Station.

Minor delays on the Elizabeth line

Tuesday 17 September 2024 08:06 , Jacob Phillips

Commuters on the Elizabeth line have also been hit by delays on Tuesday morning.

There are delays on the line between Maidenhead and Reading while Transport for London fix a signal failure at Twyford.

TfL has said there is a good service on the rest of the line.

Overground trains unable to run in south London

Tuesday 17 September 2024 07:43 , Jacob Phillips

Trains are unable to run on the London Overground in south London due to a fire.

There is no service between New Cross Gate and Crystal Palace and West Croydon due to the blaze near Brockley.

Transport for London has told customers that tickets are being accepted on the Tube and there is a good service on the rest of the Overground.

Fire has damaged electricity supply

Tuesday 17 September 2024 07:30 , Jacob Phillips

The lineside fire near Brockley Station has damaged cables that supply electricity to the railway.

Sharing a photo of the fire, Network Rail apologised and warned that the fire will cause huge delays throughout the busy rush hour period.

The London Fire Brigade are currently on site dealing with the blaze.

Fire near railway causing huge delays across south London

Tuesday 17 September 2024 07:26 , Jacob Phillips

A fire next to the railway tracks near Brockley Station has stopped trains running in the area.

The major disruption is affecting Thameslink and Southern services that run between East Croydon / Norwood Junction and London Bridge.

National Rail has warned that a “significant fire” is affecting lineside cabling between Norwood Junction and London Bridge.