Commuters in London faced a frustrating start to Thursday morning, 15 October, with problems hitting both the Tube and mainline rail services during the busiest part of the day. Two Underground lines were caught up in delays, while an incident at Liverpool Street, the busiest railway station in the country, led to platform closures and cancelled trains. Passengers heading to Stansted Airport and Cambridge have also been affected, and some disruption is expected to carry on throughout the day. Here’s what’s happening, which routes are hit and what you can do if your journey has been thrown off course.
A signal failure has caused chaos on the District line.
The District line was among the worst affected this morning after a signal system failure. Transport for London reported severe delays on several sections, including between Earl’s Court and Ealing Broadway, between Richmond and Tower Hill, and between Edgware Road and Earl’s Court. Signs warning of the problems were put up at stations such as Notting Hill Gate.
Other parts of the line weren’t running smoothly either. Passengers travelling between Upminster and Tower Hill, as well as between Earl’s Court and Wimbledon, were warned to expect minor delays. With the District line serving so many busy stretches of west and central London, the knock-on effect left plenty of people running late for work.
A broken-down train slowed the Northern line.
Northern line passengers had their own problems to deal with. A faulty train at Nine Elms led to severe delays on the branch between High Barnet and Camden Town, which is used by thousands of commuters heading into the city from north London each morning.
Further south, the section between Kennington and Battersea was also running with minor delays. Breakdowns like this can quickly cause a backlog, as trains behind the faulty one have to wait or be held at stations until the line is cleared. Even after the problem is fixed, it can take a while for services to return to their usual timetable.
Platforms are shut at Liverpool Street.
Away from the Underground, an operational incident at London Liverpool Street forced platforms 1, 2, and 3 to close. That’s caused cancellations and last-minute changes to trains, particularly on routes heading out towards Hackney Downs and Chingford.
The disruption is expected to last throughout the day. It’s affecting services run by Greater Anglia, the Stansted Express and the London Overground’s Weaver line. With fewer platforms available at such a busy station, trains are having to be squeezed into the remaining space, which means some will be changed, delayed or sent elsewhere.
Stansted and Cambridge travellers have also been hit.
Anyone travelling to or from Stansted Airport should allow extra time, as services between the airport and Liverpool Street are disrupted in both directions. Trains to and from Cambridge and Cambridge North are caught up in the problems as well, along with services to Hertford East.
Greater Anglia has warned that some of its trains may be altered or diverted to Stratford instead of running into Liverpool Street. Services that do make it into the station could also arrive slightly late. The operator has apologised to passengers for the delays and inconvenience. If you’ve got a flight to catch, it may be safest to leave earlier than planned and keep a close eye on live updates.
Your ticket can be used on other routes.
The good news is that you shouldn’t need to buy another ticket if your train is disrupted. Passengers affected by the problems at Liverpool Street can use their existing tickets on other Greater Anglia services, as well as on the Underground and London buses. That should make it easier to find another way to reach your destination.
Ticket acceptance is also in place on the London Overground’s Weaver line for the whole day. If you’re unsure whether your ticket will be accepted on a particular route, ask a member of staff at the station before you travel. They’ll be able to point you towards the quickest alternative and confirm which services you can use.
How to claim money back for delays
If your journey has been held up, you may be entitled to some compensation. Greater Anglia passengers who are delayed by 15 minutes or more can claim through its Delay Repay scheme on the operator’s website. The amount you get back usually depends on how long you were delayed and the type of ticket you have.
Hold on to your ticket or proof of purchase, as you’ll need the details to make a claim. Tube users may be able to get a refund for some delays too, as Transport for London has its own scheme for longer hold-ups on its network. Claims usually need to be made within a set time, so don’t leave it too long before applying.
Tips for getting through a disrupted day
Before setting off, check the latest service updates on the TfL website or app, or with the train operator you’re using. Problems can change quickly, and a route that’s running well one hour may be struggling the next. Journey planner apps can help you find alternative routes, such as switching to a different Tube line or hopping on a bus for part of the trip.
If you can, think about travelling a little earlier or later to avoid the worst of the crowds. Working from home for the morning might be an option for some, so check with your manager if it’s possible. Let your workplace know if you’re likely to be late, and keep some water and a charged phone with you in case you get stuck. Being prepared won’t stop the delays, but it can make a stressful journey a little easier to cope with.
