Rail services to and from Heathrow Airport were plunged into severe disruption on Wednesday after a fire near the tracks caused major cancellations and delays on key routes.
Fire Halts Key Airport Routes
A blaze at a property close to the railway line between Reading and London Paddington sparked widespread travel chaos, affecting thousands of passengers heading to and from the UK's busiest airport. Great Western Rail confirmed that fewer trains were able to run on the affected stretch, leading to significant service reductions.
Multiple Services Suspended
The incident caused a ripple effect across multiple operators serving Heathrow. Heathrow Express services were completely suspended, with the operator citing a "significant incident outside of our control". Simultaneously, Transport for London announced there was no service on the Elizabeth Line between Paddington and Reading or Heathrow branches due to a fire alert.
Passengers were warned that services on routes between Reading and Paddington may be cancelled or severely delayed. Disruption is expected to continue until at least 8pm this evening.
Passenger Advice and Alternatives
Travel authorities urged all passengers planning to use rail services to Heathrow to check the latest status before setting out and to allow considerable extra time for their journeys. Transport for London stated that London Underground services were accepting tickets "via any reasonable route" and noted that a good service was running on the rest of the Elizabeth Line outside the affected section.
The disruption highlights the vulnerability of key transport corridors serving Heathrow and is likely to impact evening travel plans for thousands of air passengers and airport workers.
