London travel news LIVE: Drivers hit with hour long delays on M25 after three vehicle collision

Drivers faced hour long waits on the M25 following a three vehicle collision on Wednesday evening.

There was six miles of congestion on the key travel link after traffic had to be stopped near Reigate due to the incident.

The road has since reopened.

Earlier on Wednesday commuters using Thameslink and Southern trains were hit with disruption to multiple routes.

This was due to a fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and London Blackfriars.

Follow latest updates below...

What you need to know to get around London today:

Good morning!

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:12 , Jordan King

Good morning and welcome to The Standard’s travel blog.

Stay with us for live updates on getting around London throughout the day.

Severe delays to Elizabeth line

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:13 , Jordan King

A faulty train at Paddington has caused severe disruption to the Elizabeth line on the route between Paddington and Abbey Wood/Shenfield.

Disruption at Stratford because of derailed train

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:16 , Jordan King

Early this morning, at around 4am, an engineering works train was derailed at Stratford.

This affected the following routes:

• Elizabeth line services between Heathrow Terminal 4 / Heathrow Terminal 5 / London Liverpool Street / London Paddington and Gidea Park / Shenfield

• Greater Anglia services between Stratford and Bishops Stortford / Cambridge / Hertford East / Meridian Water, and between London Liverpool Street and Braintree / Chelmsford / Clacton-on-Sea / Colchester / Colchester Town / Harwich International / Harwich Town / Ipswich / Norwich / Southend Victoria / Southminster / Witham

• London Overground services between Camden Road / Clapham Junction / Richmond / Willesden Junction and Stratford

The lines have since been reopened but disruption is expected to continue until at least 3pm.

Minor delays to District line

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:17 , Jordan King

There are minor delays between Turnham Green and Richmond due to a points failure at Richmond - good service on the rest of the line.

Elizabeth line commuters voice anger at delays

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:30 , Jordan King

We’ve told you how the Elizabeth line has been hit with severe delays this morning, affecting loads of Londoners - and people who live on the outskirts - trying to get to work.

One commuter branded the service “Muppet Central”.

Similarly, a man posted on X: “Another morning of severe delays on the Elizabeth line.

“Is this bulls**t ever going to be ironed out so we have a reliable service?”

Minor delays to Elizabeth line as well

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:53 , Jordan King

On top of the severe delays we have already told you about (between Paddington and Abbey Wood / Shenfield), the Elizabeth line has also been hit with minor delays on another route - between Paddington and Heathrow Terminals/Reading.

Disruption to trains running through West Ham

Wednesday 6 March 2024 08:49 , Jordan King

A train fault at West Ham is causing disruption to services running through this station.

As a result, trains may be delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised.

This affects c2c services between London Fenchurch Street and Grays / Pitsea / Shoeburyness.

Disruption between East Croydon and London Blackfriars

Wednesday 6 March 2024 08:59 , Jordan King

Thameslink trains are facing delays this morning, because of a fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and London Blackfriars.

The routes affected are:

• between Brighton/Three Bridges/East Grinstead/ Gatwick Airport and Bedford

• between Brighton and Cambridge, and between Horsham and Peterborough

This disruption is expected until at least 11am.

More on the disruption between East Croydon and London Blackfriars:

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:01 , Jordan King

Some trains which would run from East Croydon towards London Blackfriars via London Bridge will instead be diverted to run via Tulse Hill.

You can continue to travel using your normal route, but your journey may take up to 15 minutes longer than usual between East Croydon and London Blackfriars.

This will affect trains travelling north towards London on the following routes:

• Horsham to Peterborough

• Three Bridges to Bedford

• East Grinstead to Bedford

• Epsom to London Bridge

Trains which are travelling south from London towards East Croydon will continue to run on their scheduled route but may be subject to minor knock-on delays.

If you are travelling to London Bridge via Thameslink:

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:02 , Jordan King

Thameslink trains are facing delays this morning, because of a fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and London Blackfriars.Some trains will continue to call at London Bridge.

If you are travelling on a train which has been diverted, you will instead need to travel to London Blackfriars and use an alternative route from there.

You can change for a southbound Thameslink service, or use London Underground services to reach your destination.

If you are travelling to Norwood Junction via Thameslink:

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:03 , Jordan King

Thameslink trains are facing delays this morning, because of a fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and London Blackfriars.

Where possible, northbound Thameslink trains will make additional stops to help maintain service to/from Norwood Junction.

You can also use Southern or London Overground trains from West Croydon or Crystal Palace.

Serious delays to traffic on Lewisham High Street

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:09 , Jordan King

Traffic is seriously delayed in all directions on Lewisham High Street, where emergency Thames water works are taking place.

There is currently a single alternate lane working under temporary traffic signal control.

Disruption status for train lines serving London

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:18 , Jordan King

As of 9.15am, train lines serving London reported the following statuses:

• South Western Railway - minor delays

• Southern - minor delays

• Thameslink - minor delays

• Greater Anglia - minor delays

• c2c - minor delays

Disruption between Highbury & Islington and Crystal Palace

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:23 , Jordan King

London Overgound trains running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised because of a fault with the signalling system.

Disruption is expected until 10.15am.

London Overground part suspended

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:40 , Jordan King

There is currently no service between Crystal Palace and Sydenham while TfL fixes a faulty track at Honor Oak Park.

Disruption between East Croydon/West Croydon and New Cross Gate

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:44 , Jordan King

We told you earlier about a fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and London Blackfriars.

This is also affecting Southern and Thameslink routes between East Croydon / West Croydon and New Cross Gate.

The following routes are affected:

• Southern between Uckfield / Caterham and London Bridge

• Thameslink between Brighton / Three Bridges / East Grinstead / Gatwick Airport and Bedford, and between Brighton and Cambridge, and between Horsham and Peterborough

Bakerloo line part suspended

Wednesday 6 March 2024 10:05 , Jordan King

There is currently no service between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone while TfL fixes a points failure at Stonebridge Park - good service on the rest of the line.

Elizabeth line no longer delayed

Wednesday 6 March 2024 11:06 , Jordan King

The Elizabeth line has returned to running a good service, after a morning of chaos with both severe and minor delays to different parts of the line because of a faulty train and Paddington.

Lines serving West Ham reopen

Wednesday 6 March 2024 11:08 , Jordan King

We told you earlier about how a train fault at West Ham was causing disruption to c2c services between London Fenchurch Street and Grays / Pitsea / Shoeburyness.

This incident has been cleared and trains are now running as normal, National Rail has said.

Severe delays to London Overground

Wednesday 6 March 2024 11:52 , Jordan King

There are currently severe delays between Euston and Watford Junction while TfL fixes a points failure - good service on the rest of the line.

Severe and minor delays to Bakerloo line

Wednesday 6 March 2024 11:52 , Jordan King

There are currently severe delays between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone due to an earlier points failure at Stonebridge with minor delays on the rest of the line.

Update on disruption between East Croydon and London Blackfriars:

Wednesday 6 March 2024 11:55 , Jordan King

This route is still facing delays but they seem to be getting less severe with predicted delays being reduced from 15 minutes to 10.

Trains which run from East Croydon towards London Blackfriars via London Bridge were being diverted via Tulse Hill but they are now running to their scheduled routes.

To recap on what we originally told you about the disruption:

Thameslink and Southern trains are facing delays this morning, because of a fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and London Blackfriars.

The routes affected are:

• Southern between Uckfield / Caterham and London Bridge

• Thameslink between Brighton / Three Bridges / East Grinstead / Gatwick Airport and Bedford, and between Brighton and Cambridge, and between Horsham and Peterborough

Southern and Thameslink disruption expected until end of day

Wednesday 6 March 2024 12:45 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Disruption affecting Southern and Thameslink train services is now expected to last until the end of the day, says National Rail.

A fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and London Blackfriars is causing disruption to services.

Routes affected are:

• Southern services between Uckfield / Caterham and London Bridge

• Thameslink services between Brighton / Three Bridges / East Grinstead / Gatwick Airport and Bedford, and between Brighton and Cambridge, and between Horsham and Peterborough

Overground delays now ended

Wednesday 6 March 2024 12:56 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Earlier delays on the Overground have now ended, says TfL. There remain severe delays on the Bakerloo and District lines, and a good service on all other lines.

No trains from Cannon Street this weekend

Wednesday 6 March 2024 13:15 , Josh Salisbury

Engineering work is taking place between London Cannon Street and Charlton all weekend, meaning trains will run.

#On Sunday the work will be extended and the line between Charlton and Slade Green will also be closed.

Southeastern routes to / from London Cannon Street and between London Charing Cross and Dartford / HayesThameslink between Kentish Town and Rainham will be affected.

For more information, visit here.

Delays to Bakerloo line continue

Wednesday 6 March 2024 13:52 , Jordan King

There are currently severe delays between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone due to an earlier points failure at Stonebridge Park with minor delays on the rest of the line.

Bakerloo line no longer delayed

Wednesday 6 March 2024 14:24 , Jordan King

The Bakerloo line has returned to running a good service.

District line delays continue

Wednesday 6 March 2024 14:25 , Jordan King

There are currently minor delays between Turnham Green and Richmond due to a points failure at Richmond - there is good service on the rest of the line.

Disruption between Watford Junction and Milton Keynes Central

Wednesday 6 March 2024 14:44 , Jordan King

Damage to the overhead line equipment between Watford Junction and Milton Keynes Central is causing disruption to services.

Trains running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised.

The following routes are affected:

• Avanti West Coast between London Euston and Birmingham New Street / Chester / Holyhead / Liverpool Lime Street / Manchester Piccadilly / Blackpool North / Glasgow Central / Edinburgh

• London Northwestern Railway between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central / Birmingham New Street / Crewe

London’s cycle network has quadrupled in length since Sadiq Khan became mayor, TfL announces

Wednesday 6 March 2024 17:19 , Jacob Phillips

London’s cycle network has quadrupled in length since Sadiq Khan became mayor, Transport for London announced on Wednesday.

It came as TfL hailed the completion of Cycleway 4, which links Tower Bridge and Greenwich.

According to TfL, the Cycleway network – which includes routes that are mostly but not continuously segregated or protected from vehicles – has grown from 56 miles in 2016 to 223 miles today.

Read the full story here.

Hour long delays on the M25

Wednesday 6 March 2024 20:00 , Jacob Phillips

National Highways has warned of hour long delays on the M25 and five miles of congestion due to a three-vehicle collision.

Surrey Police are at the scene.

Commuters trapped for three hours after train hit fallen tree

Wednesday 6 March 2024 21:49 , Jacob Phillips

Commuters, including a cancer patient who needed medical attention, were left stranded for three hours after a train hit a tree that had fallen on the line in south London.

The incident happened at West Wickham at around 5.30pm on Wednesday with engineers and the London Fire Brigade both sent to the scene.Read the full story here.

Live coverage ends

Wednesday 6 March 2024 22:32 , Jacob Phillips

The Evening Standard’s travel live blog has ended.

Read the latest transport stories from the Standard here.