Train services connecting London Paddington with Heathrow Airport were disrupted for several hours after a grass fire near the railway line caused an electricity supply failure, leaving passengers stranded and forcing operators to cancel services.
National Rail described the incident as a “major disruption” after the fire started shortly after 16:00 BST on Saturday. All railway lines between London Paddington and Heathrow’s terminals, as well as routes towards Reading, were blocked because the fire damaged the electricity supply alongside the track.
The disruption affected several major services used by airport passengers. Great Western Railway cancelled services to Reading, while Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express trains between Paddington and Heathrow were suspended during Saturday evening.
Images shared on social media showed large crowds gathering at Paddington station as passengers waited for information and alternative travel options.
The London Fire Brigade said six fire engines and about 40 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze near Scrubs Lane in North Kensington. Crews worked to bring the fire under control while railway teams dealt with the impact on the electrical infrastructure.
By Sunday morning, rail operators confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and services had returned to normal. However, Network Rail Western warned that some trains could still face delays and cancellations because trains had been left in different locations during the disruption.
Heathrow Airport advised passengers to allow additional time for their journeys. The Piccadilly line, another key rail connection between central London and Heathrow, was also experiencing delays.
The railway disruption came on the same day as a separate grass fire at Heathrow Airport that temporarily closed the southern runway. At least two flights were diverted while emergency crews dealt with the blaze. Heathrow apologised to passengers and said the fire was extinguished quickly.
The airport has experienced another serious grass fire in recent weeks. An earlier blaze near the southern runway forced 18 flights to divert and destroyed a significant area of grassland.
The latest incidents have renewed attention on the continued risk of fires across parts of the UK, despite temperatures falling after a period of record-breaking summer heat.
The Met Office’s Fire Severity Index indicates that much of south-east England and parts of the Midlands face high fire severity. Some areas of London, including Heathrow, along with sections of the Essex and Suffolk coasts, have been rated at the exceptional level, the highest category on the index.
