Commuters travelling through one of London’s busiest stations are facing severe disruption on Friday after an operational incident forced the closure of platforms at Liverpool Street. The Liverpool Street train disruption is expected to last until the end of the day, National Rail has warned.
This is a developing story. Follow our live blog below for the latest updates as the situation unfolds.
Key facts
- An operational incident has closed some platforms at London Liverpool Street station
- The incident was first reported early on Thursday morning and remains ongoing
- Greater Anglia, London Overground and Stansted Express services are all affected
- Delays, cancellations and alterations are expected until the end of Friday, 16 October
- Passengers are urged to check before they travel and allow plenty of extra time
What we know so far
National Rail has confirmed that an operational incident at London Liverpool Street means some platforms at the station are currently closed. As a result, trains running between Liverpool Street and Hackney Downs may be delayed, cancelled or altered.
The incident was first reported early on Thursday morning and is still ongoing. In its latest update, issued on Friday morning, National Rail said the disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day. Details of the incident itself remain limited at this stage.
Passengers have been urged to check their journeys before setting off, and to keep an eye on live departure boards as services are likely to change at short notice throughout the day.
Which services are affected
Three train operators are affected by the incident:
- Greater Anglia – services between London Liverpool Street and Hertford East, Bishop’s Stortford and Stansted Airport
- London Overground – services between Liverpool Street and Chingford, Enfield Town and Cheshunt
- Stansted Express – services between Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport
Some Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services are being diverted to start from Stratford instead, while others will terminate at or start back from Bishop’s Stortford. Trains that do run into and out of Liverpool Street may be subject to short delays.
London Overground is running fewer services to and from Liverpool Street via Hackney Downs during peak hours, and passengers are advised to expect busier trains on the services that do run.
Alternative routes for affected commuters
With National Rail services disrupted, commuters do have other options for getting in and out of the Liverpool Street area:
- London Underground and Elizabeth line: Liverpool Street is served by the Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines, as well as the Elizabeth line, giving plenty of alternatives for journeys across central and east London that avoid the affected National Rail routes.
- London buses: London Overground tickets are being accepted on London buses via any reasonable route at no extra cost, which will help passengers travelling between Liverpool Street, Hackney Downs and intermediate stations.
- Stansted Airport passengers: Some Stansted Express and Greater Anglia services are starting from Stratford, which is easy to reach on the Central line, Elizabeth line and London Overground. Check with the operator before travelling and allow extra time to reach the airport.
- Hertford East, Bishop’s Stortford and Cambridge line passengers: Some services are starting from Stratford or Bishop’s Stortford rather than Liverpool Street, so check live departure boards before heading to the station.
Passengers heading into the City may also find it quicker to change onto the Underground or the Elizabeth line at an earlier station rather than travelling all the way into a disrupted Liverpool Street.
What to do if your train is cancelled
Anyone whose train is cancelled can travel on alternative services up to two hours before or after their original departure time at no extra charge. Passengers who arrive at their destination significantly delayed may be entitled to compensation through the Delay Repay scheme, so keep hold of tickets and make a note of actual arrival times.
Second day of disruption at the station
The Liverpool Street train disruption comes a day after a train struck a buffer stop at Liverpool Street, causing disruption for evening commuters on Thursday. It means passengers using the station have now faced two consecutive days of problems.
Commuters planning journeys over the weekend should also check for planned engineering works, with Tube closures across the capital this weekend and closures affecting the Central, Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines.
This is a developing story and this article will be updated as more information becomes available.
