Passengers are facing major travel disruption travelling to and from Heathrow airport after a burst pipe halted train services.
Transport for London said there were no services on the Elizabeth Line between Hayes and Harlington and Heathrow due to a signal failure caused by flooding at Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3. The Heathrow Express has also been affected.
There is also no Piccadilly line service to the airport due to planned engineering works.
Heathrow Express posted on X: “Due to a significant incident outside of our control, there are currently no Heathrow Express services running. We are actively working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Heathrow airport wrote: “There are currently no rail services operating to and from Heathrow. The Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express are suspended. The Piccadilly line is also closed between Heathrow and Acton Town as part of planned works.
“If you are travelling to the airport, please allow extra time and plan your journey using TfL’s journey planner: We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Customers hoping to travel on the half-term weekend have found their plans disrupted people people reporting on social media that they had to get Ubers or minicabs in order to make the journey.
One person posted on X: “At 6.30 we were luckily enough to get Lizzy line to terminal 2 but over an hour wait for a shuttle bus to terminal 5. Chaos there. No info. Ubers £92 between terminals and no extra buses. Took 3 hours from Highbury tube to airport.”
Another person added: “The airport has someone who can post on social media, but the communication at the airport itself was not the least bit helpful. I eventually managed to get a minicab via uber, and am now on the M25 on the way to Suffolk!”
Heathrow airport is the busiest airport in the UK and Europe. Just last year it recorded its busiest-ever day, with more than a quarter of a million passengers passing through its four terminals on 1 August.
Status for the Elizabeth line and and Heathrow Express
A TfL status update warns there are “minor delays” between Hays & Harlington and Heathrow airport due to a signal failure caused by flooding at Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3.
The Heathrow Express status update from 11.40am shows there is no services in either direction due to a fault with the signalling system.
Alternative travel options
Passengers travelling from Paddington can take the Elizabeth line to Hayes and Harlington, then continue by bus, according to a statement from the airport. Rail replacement services are in place for the Piccadilly line.
When passengers reach Heathrow, they can use bus stops to reach the Central Terminal Area, where onward connections are available to London and all terminals.
For terminal four, passengers should usse bus stops 13 and 14; bus stop 16 can help connect people to terminal five. Meanwhile, bus bay 16 can help people get to terminals two and three.
“From the CTA, you can connect to onward buses to London or between terminals.”
This is a developing story, more to follow…
