Grass fires disrupt trains to Heathrow and close runway
Trackside blaze and airfield incident caused major travel delays on Saturday.
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Major disruption affected travellers to and from Heathrow Airport on Saturday after a trackside grass fire halted all rail services. The incident, which began shortly after 4pm, led to a failure in the electricity supply, blocking all lines between London Paddington and Heathrow, as well as services to Reading. National Rail warned that significant delays were expected to continue until the end of the day.
Rail services suspended
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Electricity failure caused by trackside blaze led to cancellations and delays affecting multiple rail services.
Six fire engines and approximately 40 crew members from the London Fire Brigade were dispatched to tackle the blaze near Scrubs Lane in North Kensington. As a result, Great Western Railway cancelled its services to Reading. Both the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express reported no services running between Paddington and Heathrow on Saturday evening. Passengers at Paddington station were pictured facing crowds and delays.
Heathrow Airport advised passengers to allow additional time for their journeys. Services on the Piccadilly line, which also serves the airport, experienced delays. The airport experienced a second incident on Saturday when its southern runway was temporarily closed due to a separate grass fire on the airfield. This led to at least two flights being diverted. Heathrow Airport apologised for any inconvenience caused by this incident, stating the fire was quickly extinguished.
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This latest disruption follows a similar grass fire near Heathrow's southern runway weeks prior, which caused 18 flight diversions and damaged a considerable area of grassland. Despite recent cooler weather, fire services continue to highlight wildfire risks. The Met Office's Fire Severity Index indicates that fire severity is 'exceptional', the highest level, in certain areas of London, including Heathrow.
Questions this report answers
+What caused the train disruption to Heathrow Airport?
A trackside grass fire near Scrubs Lane in North Kensington caused a power supply failure, blocking all rail lines between London Paddington and Heathrow. This led to cancellations and major delays for Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, and Elizabeth line services on Saturday.
+Was there any other disruption at Heathrow Airport on Saturday?
Yes, Heathrow Airport's southern runway was temporarily closed earlier on Saturday due to a separate grass fire on the airfield. This incident caused some disruption, including the diversion of at least two flights.
+What is the fire risk level in the Heathrow area?
According to the Met Office's Fire Severity Index, the fire risk in some parts of London, including Heathrow, is rated as 'exceptional'. This is the highest level on the index, indicating a significant risk of wildfires.
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