London travel news LIVE: Chaos at Euston as fatality and swan on line lead to major disruption

Photos show people packed into London Euston on Thursday evening  (@wharfyoung)
Photos show people packed into London Euston on Thursday evening (@wharfyoung)

Passengers have faced major delays on Tuesday evening after a fatality on the line and a swan on the tracks.

Commuters faced delays of up to 90 minutes at Euston after emergency services had to deal with an incident between the station and Rugby.

London Northwestern Railway later warned customers that there were further delays and cancellations due to an animal on the line.

Network Rail told the Standard that although the trespassing swan was not the main cause of delays it had created extra difficulties.

The swan was moved but disruption remains until the end of the day at Euston following the incidents.

Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services to locations such as Liverpool, Edinburgh and Birmingham have been affected, with National Rail warning that trains could be cancelled.

Elsewhere travellers from Marylebone stations are also facing waits of up to 90 minutes for some services.

A fault with the signalling system near Marylebone means trains may be delayed by up to an hour-and-a-half or cancelled, National Rail has warned.

Follow latest updates below...

Central line suffers delays amid ongoing train shortages

Thursday 8 February 2024 07:19 , Josh Salisbury

Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of travel disruption throughout Thursday.

Commuters are being warned that heavy rain is set to bring disruption to transport until 6am Friday.

Those making the commute this morning will be battling with delays on the Central line, while Southern Railway has warned of some disruption, particularly on routes coming to-and-from the coast because of heavy rain and wind.

Congestion on M25 in north London after lorry crash

Thursday 8 February 2024 07:22 , Josh Salisbury

In north London, motorists on the M25 between Junction 26 at Waltham Abbey to Junction 27 are experiencing queues.

This is because of an earlier “high impact” collision involving a lorry and a car, according to traffic monitoring site, Inrix.

Congestion is heavy to the M11 at J27, before the Holmesdale Tunnel.

Rush hour delays on Elizabeth line as passenger taken ill

Thursday 8 February 2024 07:53 , Josh Salisbury

Elizabeth line services will be disrupted for around an hour at Liverpool Street after a passenger was taken ill on a train.

The incident means some lines are closed on the busy route, with commuters being warned to expect cancellations and delays.

The line between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 4 / Reading, and also between Shenfield and Heathrow Terminal 5, is affected.

Disruption is expected to continue until 8.45am.

No service on part of Metropolitan Line

Thursday 8 February 2024 08:24 , Josh Salisbury

The Metropolitan line is not running between Moor Park and Watford, while there are severe delays between the Harrow-on-the-Hill and Chesham/Amersham stretch of the line.

TfL says this is because of a signal failure at Moor Park. Tickets are being accepted on the Overground and Chiltern Railways in the affected area.

Six miles of congestion on M25

Thursday 8 February 2024 09:02 , Josh Salisbury

There is six miles worth of congestion on the M25 between junction 6 and junction 5 after a crash.

Motorists are being warned it is adding over an hour to normal journey times.

Minor delays on Jubilee Line

Thursday 8 February 2024 09:47 , Josh Salisbury

There are currently minor delays on the Jubilee Line because of an earlier faulty train at Canary Wharf.

There are also severe delays on the Metropolitan Line due to an earlier signal failure.

Signalling fault delays trains between Moorgate and Finsbury Park

Thursday 8 February 2024 10:14 , Josh Salisbury

A fault with the signalling system at Drayton Park has left trains running between Finsbury Park and Moorgate disrupted.

Trains may be delayed by up to 20 minutes or diverted to London Kings Cross.

Disruption is expected to continue until 11am.

No service on Elizabeth Line to Heathrow

Thursday 8 February 2024 11:01 , Josh Salisbury

There is currently no service on the Elizabeth Line between Paddington and Heathrow Airport as emergency services respond to reports of a person on the track.

Great Western Railway services are also affected.

Trains running between these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 90 minutes.

Disruption is expected until 3pm.

Major disruption continues on routes to Heathrow Airport

Thursday 8 February 2024 12:05 , Josh Salisbury

The entire of the Elizabeth Line line remains suspended between Paddington and Heathrow/Reading, and is now also suspended between Whitechapel and Abbey Wood.

The central section of the line is also experiencing severe delays due to the earlier emergency services incident.

The Heathrow Express is also currently suspended.

Severe delays on part of Piccadilly Line

Thursday 8 February 2024 12:22 , Josh Salisbury

There are severe delays on the Piccadilly Line between Cockfosters and Acton Town westbound because of a signal failure at Arnos Grove.

Minor delays are also occurring on the line between Acton Town and Rayners Lane due to train cancellations.

Heathrow/Reading train disruption update

Thursday 8 February 2024 13:38 , Michael Howie

The Elizabeth Line is no longer part-suspended, according to TfL - but there are severe delays between Paddington and Heathrow/Reading due to the earlier incident.

National Rail says Great Western trains between Paddington and Reading are also affected, as are Heathrow Express services, with the disruption now due to last until the end of the day.

Update on Elizabeth Line disruption

Thursday 8 February 2024 14:41 , Josh Salisbury

Lines have reopened between London Paddington and Heathrow and Reading as the emergency services are now safely clear of the line.

However, trains running between these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 80 minutes whilst service recovers.

Major disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Trains not stopping at King's Cross this weekend

Thursday 8 February 2024 15:43 , Jacob Phillips

LNER has warned customers trains will not be stopping at King’s Cross this weekend.

Services will instead start and end at Grantham.

Severe delays hit the Piccadilly Line in rush hour

Thursday 8 February 2024 16:29 , Jacob Phillips

There are severe delays on the Piccadilly Line from Acton Town to Heathrow Terminals as well as between Acton Town and Uxbridge.There are minor delays on three other tube lines in rush hour.

Trains are delayed anticlockwise on the Circle Line due to train cancellations.

There are also minor delays on the Metropolitan Line between Moor Park and Amersham.

The Central Line is also hit with minor delays due to the ongoing issues with a shortage of trains.

Good service again on the Metropolitan Line and Circle Line

Thursday 8 February 2024 17:18 , Jacob Phillips

There is now a good service on the Metropolitan Line and Circle Line again, TfL has said.

Severe delays remain on the Piccadilly Line.

Major disruption at London Euston

Thursday 8 February 2024 20:13 , Jacob Phillips

Commuters at London Euston have been facing major disruption after emergency services had to deal with an incident between Euston and Rugby.

Trains running between these stations may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised, National Rail has said.

Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services to locations such as Liverpool, Edinburgh and Birmingham have been affected.

Major disruption is expected to continue until 21.30pm

Disruption expected at Euston until the end of the day

Thursday 8 February 2024 20:17 , Jacob Phillips

National Rail has said disruption is now expected at Euston until the end of the day.

But now delays have been reduced slightly to up to 45 minutes

Delays up to 90 minutes at Marylebone station

Thursday 8 February 2024 20:22 , Jacob Phillips

A fault with the signalling system near Marylebone station means trains may be delayed by up to 90 minutes or cancelled, National Rail has warned.

Major disruption is expected until 21.30pm.

Major disruption at Euston caused by swan on the track

Thursday 8 February 2024 20:44 , Jacob Phillips

Major disruption at Euston station has been caused by a swan on the tracks, London Northwestern Railway has said.

The animal has since been moved but disruption will continue until the end of the Thursday.

'Euston we have a problem'

Thursday 8 February 2024 21:46 , Jacob Phillips

Euston station was packed as commuters faced disruption earlier on Thursday.

Major disruption expected to continue at Marylebone until 11pm

Thursday 8 February 2024 21:48 , Jacob Phillips

National Rail has warned that disruption will continue at Marylebone station until 11pm.

Travellers still face 90 minute delays.

Live coverage ends

Thursday 8 February 2024 22:24 , Jacob Phillips

Our live coverage has ended. Please find the latest transport stories from the Evening Standard here.