Overhead line damage shuts King’s Cross trains until Sunday night
Cancellations and delays affect six operators after Peterborough-Stevenage fault
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Trains to and from London King’s Cross were cancelled or delayed on 29 September after overhead line damage between Peterborough and Stevenage. Network Rail said the disruption would continue until at least 23:00. Six operators, Grand Central, Great Northern, Hull Trains, LNER, Lumo and Thameslink, are affected, as reported by the Evening Standard.
The fault follows two derailments in the past week. On 26 September, a Southern Rail service from London Victoria to Eastbourne derailed near Lewes, injuring two passengers. British Transport Police declared a major incident and evacuated 150 people from three carriages that had come to rest on their side.
Driver accelerated past red signal before fatal train crash
An interim report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch details the moments leading up to the collision near Elstow.
Southern and Greater Anglia routes still closed
Southern Rail has suspended all trains between Lewes and Haywards Heath since the derailment. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is leading the inquiry; Network Rail engineers are assessing the damage. No date has been set for services to resume, as reported by the Evening Standard.
On 27 September, a Greater Anglia train from Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street derailed south of Wickford at 14:12. No injuries were reported among the 45 passengers. Lines remain closed, cancelling all services between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria. The Southminster branch line is also suspended between Wickford and Southminster, with limited rail replacement buses running.
Central, Piccadilly lines face weekend closures
Engineering works will disrupt travel across multiple London Underground lines this weekend.
What happens next
Network Rail has not announced when the overhead lines between Peterborough and Stevenage will reopen. Southern Rail and Greater Anglia have not set dates for restoring services on the affected routes. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch will publish preliminary findings on the derailments in the coming weeks.
Questions this report answers
+Which trains are cancelled to King’s Cross today?
Grand Central, Great Northern, Hull Trains, LNER, Lumo and Thameslink services to London King’s Cross are cancelled or delayed until at least 23:00 on 29 September. The fault is between Peterborough and Stevenage, as reported by the Evening Standard.
+When will Southern Rail run between Lewes and Haywards Heath again?
Southern Rail has not announced a reopening date for the line between Lewes and Haywards Heath. The route has been closed since a derailment on 26 September injured two passengers, as reported by the Evening Standard.
+How long will Greater Anglia disruption last?
Greater Anglia has not set a date for restoring services between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria. The line has been closed since a derailment near Wickford on 27 September, with no reported injuries.
+Who is investigating the derailments?
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating both derailments. Network Rail engineers are assessing the damage to tracks and overhead lines. Preliminary findings are expected in the coming weeks.
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