OHL fire Langley Junction (ECML) 17-04-25

[800001]

Hearing of a fire with the OHL at Langley junction.

All lines currently blocked as a result.

Thunderbird on route to move 1A41.

No route even via Hertford for Electric services. (From an industry source)

https://x.com/lner/status/1912931834528403583?s=46&t=JLp3J2Up_Gl_m9cQz-au6w

We are currently experiencing disruption to LNER services due to a fire next to the track between #Peterborough and #LondonKingsCross.

 

[TSGN Spotter]

1Z99 heading south Grantham area

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Langley Junction(s) is on the ECML, and maybe half way between Knebworth and Stevenage, where the line to/from Hertford North joins, yes? About 26 and a half miles out of London Kings Cross?

 

[Intercity_225]

CURRENT STRANDED TRAINS:
3C56 (18:53 Welwyn Garden City - London Kings Cross) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W24196/2025-04-17/detailed)
1L52 (18:24 London Kings Cross - Letchworth) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W23186/2025-04-17/detailed)
2C50 (17:57 London Kings Cross - Cambridge) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W23571/2025-04-17/detailed)
9J54 (16:54 Horsham - Peterborough) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W25402/2025-04-17/detailed)
1A41 (16:45 Leeds - London Kings Cross) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C71251/2025-04-17/detailed)
2C55 (17:56 Cambridge - London Kings Cross) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W23581/2025-04-17/detailed)
9J55 (17:54 Peterborough - Horsham) (CANCELLED AT HITCHIN)

 

[Donny Dave]

I've just passed Doncaster Station on my way to catch the bus for work, and the departure screens are horrific. Currently in Doncaster awaiting permission to continue are: 1E23 in P1, a GC Sunderland service in P2, and a Hull Trains service in p3a

 

[Intercity_225]

1B90 is now being routed through from the Hertford Loop.

 

[Kite159]

Not the best day nor location for something like that to happen considering it's the great Easter weekend getaway.

 

[Peter0124]

Is this likely to impact trains on Saturday?

 

[TheHSRailFan]

It was at a neutral section. Originally a small lineside fire, but quickly moved onto the OHLE. Best to say the ECML is shut between Welwyn and Stevenage for a day or 2. Hertford Loop might be fun tomorrow.

 

[800001]

It was at a neutral section. Originally a small lineside fire, but quickly moved onto the OHLE. Best to say the ECML is shut between Welwyn and Stevenage for a day or 2. Hertford Loop might be fun tomorrow.

No infrastructure damage, and stranded trains hopefully on the move shortly. (From someone at work for a TOC involved).

 

[GordonT]

No infrastructure damage, and stranded trains hopefully on the move shortly. (From someone at work for a TOC involved).

The 3.5 hours and counting delays to several trains will presumably constrain how much longer some of the traincrews will be able to work?

 

[TheHSRailFan]

No infrastructure damage, and stranded trains hopefully on the move shortly. (From someone at work for a TOC involved).

Been also told this from someone who works also for TOC and friends from the inside at NR. The ECML in that section will be out of action for the rest of the day and most likely into tomorrow.

 

[uglymonkey]

My son is currently at King's Cross, he says nothing running.

 

[Peterthegreat]

5C55 has the road from the up slow to the up main at Stevenage.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

1S99 (Lumo, electric) is going around the Hertford loop around 2 hours late

 

[Scotrail314209]

1S30 the 18:30 from King’s Cross to Edinburgh left on time, ended up 5 hours late and has now been sat at Doncaster for 40 minutes. LNER’s app is now citing “a fault on a train” as the reason.

I really do feel for those passengers and crew as they’ve been on that train for well over 7 hours and have only gotten to Doncaster.

The 1S99, 20:27 Lumo from Kings Cross to Edinburgh is currently at a stand near Hambleton North Junction, it was running 3 and a half hours late but is now bordering on 4 hours late.

Definitely not a good situation for anyone involved.

 

[3270]

Looks like 6T43 22:35 Worksop Down Yard to York Skelton Otm Sidings is the failed train delaying 1S30 and 1S99. It's been stood on the ECML just south of Colton Jn since just before midnight. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:73051/2025-04-17/detailed. A 1Z99 has arrived on the scene in the past few minutes to rescue it. There's another 1Z99 currently at Doncaster, I think that's the one that went down to Stevenage for the OHL incident earlier and has now come back North.

 

[All Line Rover]

What on earth were they thinking putting passengers on trains that would (at best) arrive in Edinburgh at 4am, instead of booking them into London hotels?

For passengers on the 6.30pm London to Edinburgh, now a 6am expected arrival instead of 11pm!

 

[Peterthegreat]

What on earth were they thinking putting passengers on trains that would (at best) arrive in Edinburgh at 4am, instead of booking them into London hotels?

For passengers on the 6.30pm London to Edinburgh, now a 6am expected arrival instead of 11pm!

The train left London at 18.30 before any problems arose.

 

[Scotrail314209]

What on earth were they thinking putting passengers on trains that would (at best) arrive in Edinburgh at 4am, instead of booking them into London hotels?

For passengers on the 6.30pm London to Edinburgh, now a 6am expected arrival instead of 11pm!

1S30 left King’s cross on time at 18:30 and got stuck at Hatfield for 5 hours. From doing that service myself it’s also a Newcastle crew from King’s Cross to Newcastle, so probably found it best to run the service as far as they can (bear in mind they weren’t expecting another problem further up).

Also, with the trains being as busy as they are due to it being easter, having everyone stuck at a station for 5 hours then returning to London would not have gone down overly well and could potentially put the crew in an uncomfortable situation.

I have to give LNER (and Lumo) their kudos here at trying to push through and get people home, which I think after a certain time most people would rather be as close to home as they possibly could.

Also may be a case of availability of hotels in London, it’s good wondering why they haven’t booked them in but it is the Easter weekend, and a full 9 car Azuma can take 611 people seated, so that plus the other various trainloads of passengers, you’d struggle to source rooms.

 

[800001]

Been also told this from someone who works also for TOC and friends from the inside at NR. The ECML in that section will be out of action for the rest of the day and most likely into tomorrow.

The line is open and services are passing through the area.

 

[rg177]

1S30 (1830 Kings Cross-Edinburgh) has made it over the border a mere 473 minutes late. Looks set to reach Edinburgh just after 7am.

 

[Centralsimon]

Checking this morning, 1S30 is still moving

Fair play and I doff my cap for the crews and schedulers who I assume found a night crew to take it over, and an uncomfortable night on a train is superior to a platform bench.

But the train is nearly 8 hours late.

I struggle to fully understand how a fire that caused no infrastructure damage can cause a 5 hour closure of a majoth rail line.

I accept being an armchair expert isn't perfect and I align no blame to crews/ front line staff/ control room staff who no doubt had a terrible day.

I am unconvinced our leaders and shakers acknowledge the lack of resilience in our railway

What would have happened if there was major damage or the incident coincided with a planned closure out of Euston

Well done to the front line staff

Those ultimately in charge...mmmm

 

[dan4291]

The 1S99 2027 Lumo caught up in the disruption last night has only just arrived at Edinburgh at 0650, over 6 hours late (367 minutes to be precise). The 1S30 1830 LNER is indeed still moving, currently approaching Longniddry as I type.

 

[Dave W]

481 minutes late there can't be many passenger services worse than that in recent times? Sleeper service on Azuma seats... Rough

 

[357]

Respect to the Lumo crew on the 20:27 departure.

I finished an hour late and was absolutely raging about it!

 

[Intercity_225]

Can anyone tell me why GN decided to suspend the inners to WGC & SVG yesterday in the disruption? I know that Stevenage & Hertford North were affected in the incident, but couldn't they turn them back at Gordon Hill? Or atleast run a WGC - KGX shuttle in place of the Cambridge stoppers? They did the same from Letchworth - Cambridge. Just doesn't make sense to me..

 

[43094]

As someone involved, the priority was to get people home, in the midst of another terrible situation.

Whether it should have been that terrible is another (very good) question.

It's been a bad two days on the ECML.

As an aside, LNER currently have only three part-cancellations this morning, which given the situation is an exceptionally good result.

 

[62484GlenLyon]

What would have happened if there was major damage or the incident coincided with a planned closure out of Euston

We would have found out later today as tonight's Caledonian Sleepers are reversing at Wembley for ECML diversions and on Sunday and Monday nights they are running from and to Kings Cross.

 

[Failed Unit]

Can anyone tell me why GN decided to suspend the inners to WGC & SVG yesterday in the disruption? I know that Stevenage & Hertford North were affected in the incident, but couldn't they turn them back at Gordon Hill? Or atleast run a WGC - KGX shuttle in place of the Cambridge stoppers? They did the same from Letchworth - Cambridge. Just doesn't make sense to me..

If the power was off then I think it is dead until Potters Bar. Although you often get trains still on the slows to prevent the Moorgate operating. To me it is an issue on the ECML that they can’t keep Welwyn Garden City live. Especially with the frequency of issues between Welwyn and Stevenage.