Fire Disrupts South London Trains: Live Updates
A fire on the train tracks near Brockley has caused major disruptions to train services in south-east London. The blaze, which broke out next to the track near Brockley, has led to the closure of all lines in the area, affecting travel between Sydenham and New Cross Gate on Tuesday morning. Network Rail has issued a warning that the fire has damaged cables supplying electricity to the railway, resulting in significant disruptions to trains between London Bridge and Crystal Palace. London Overground services are currently running only between New Cross Gate and Highbury & Islington, while Southern and Thameslink services may be cancelled or diverted to and from London Victoria. The disruption is expected to last until the end of the day.
Train Services Affected Across Multiple Routes
In addition to the disruptions caused by the fire near Brockley, several other train routes have been impacted by various incidents. Trains traveling between Paddington and the south-west of England and Wales are experiencing 90-minute delays due to a casualty on the tracks near Wantage. The British Transport Police confirmed that a person was tragically pronounced dead at the scene, and the incident is not being treated as suspicious. This has resulted in significant delays between Paddington and stations such as Cardiff Central, Bristol Temple Meads, and Penzance. Meanwhile, a fault on a train at Vauxhall has blocked some lines to London Waterloo, causing further complications for commuters. South Western Railway has advised that some trains may be cancelled or delayed until 9:30 am.
Emergency Response and Service Updates
The London Fire Brigade reported that the trackside fire near Brockley Station was extinguished safely after breaking out around 4 am on Tuesday. Despite the fire being under control, major disruptions are expected to continue throughout the day. National Rail has reiterated that all lines between Sydenham and New Cross Gate remain closed as emergency services work to address the aftermath of the fire. Additionally, the Elizabeth line has experienced minor delays between Maidenhead and Reading due to a signal failure at Twyford. Transport for London has assured commuters of a good service on the rest of the line.
Trains on the London Overground in south London are unable to operate due to the fire near Brockley, resulting in no service between New Cross Gate and Crystal Palace as well as West Croydon. Transport for London has advised passengers that tickets are being accepted on the Tube, and there is a good service on the remainder of the Overground network. The lineside fire near Brockley Station has caused damage to cables supplying electricity to the railway, leading to significant delays during peak rush hour periods. Network Rail has issued an apology for the disruption and emphasized the ongoing efforts to manage the situation with the assistance of the London Fire Brigade.
The disruption caused by the fire near Brockley Station has impacted Thameslink and Southern services operating between East Croydon / Norwood Junction and London Bridge. National Rail has described the fire as “significant,” affecting lineside cabling between Norwood Junction and London Bridge. The extent of the damage and the timeline for restoring full service remain uncertain, with commuters advised to expect delays and plan alternative travel arrangements where possible.
