Rail Services to Heathrow Airport Disrupted by Trackside Grass Fire

Train services to and from Heathrow Airport were cancelled on Saturday afternoon after a grass fire near the tracks in the London Paddington area caused a major electricity supply failure. The London Fire Brigade dispatched six fire engines and approximately 40 crew members to tackle the blaze near Scrubs Lane in North Kensington, which was reported shortly after 4:10 pm. The incident left all lines blocked between Paddington and the airport, as well as between Paddington and Reading.

The disruption affected multiple operators. The Heathrow Express ceased operations in both directions for the remainder of the evening, and Great Western Railway cancelled services to Reading. The Elizabeth line was suspended between Paddington and Heathrow terminals four and five, and between Paddington and Reading, while severe delays affected the rest of the line. Fire crews and Transport for London evacuated 380 passengers who were stranded on an Elizabeth line train.

Passengers were advised to use local buses or the Piccadilly line, although the Piccadilly line also experienced severe delays. Heathrow Airport advised travelers to allow extra time for their journeys. By Sunday morning, rail operators reported that the fire had been extinguished and normal services had resumed, though some residual delays occurred due to displaced trains.

Additional reports noted that Heathrow's southern runway had also been closed earlier on Saturday due to a separate grass fire on the airfield, which resulted in at least two flight diversions. The Met Office's Fire Severity Index indicated an exceptional fire severity level for parts of London, including Heathrow, amid ongoing wildfire risks.