Radlett Disruption 08/08

[tram21]

EMR and Thameslink have announced major disruption to services to/from St Pancras all day today, due to damage to the overhead lines.

EMR are only running one train per hour.

Does anyone know what the problem may be that seems to have occurred overnight, and won't be fixed until tonight?

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/radlett-20250808/

 

[Cormoran1274]

Apparently 75m of ‘sagging’ of the contact wire and 6 droppers have been displaced. They’ve put on a 40mph ESR which is why they would’ve cut out some services

 

[rick pike]

There's now a block at Stevenage due to one under. Grim day all round.
Thoughts to those dealing with the Stevenage incident.

 

[sh24]

EMR are planning 3 an hour, one each to Nottingham/Sheffield/Corby. Fun journey back to London for me this afternoon.

 

[Nippy]

Apparently 75m of ‘sagging’ of the contact wire and 6 droppers have been displaced. They’ve put on a 40mph ESR which is why they would’ve cut out some services

The up slow is also Blocked to Electric Traction.

 

[duffield]

EMR are steering Sheffield passengers to LNER at Doncaster as an alternative, as usual. But currently there is no mention on the national rail EMR incident report that there are no LNER services running through to Kings Cross. As least in the reverse case the LNER incident report mentions that EMR is disrupted.

For this morning anyhow, this seems like very bad advice, passengers from Sheffield should probably be sticking with EMR; they will be very unhappy if they travel to Doncaster and find they can't get to London.

 

[ajp999]

EMR are steering Sheffield passengers to LNER at Doncaster as an alternative, as usual. But currently there is no mention on the national rail EMR incident report that there are no LNER services running through to Kings Cross. As least in the reverse case the LNER incident report mentions that EMR is disrupted.

For this morning anyhow, this seems like very bad advice, passengers from Sheffield should probably be sticking with EMR; they will be very unhappy if they travel to Doncaster and find they can't get to London.

Has been updated now but appears at the bottom of the EMR advice rather than near the top so could do with being more prominent.

 

[duffield]

Has been updated now but appears at the bottom of the EMR advice rather than near the top so could do with being more prominent.

The Sheffield paragraph really needs changing to direct passengers to stick with EMR until the LNER incident is cleared. I doubt many Sheffield passengers will see the note you've highlighted, and if they do currently the sum of the advice effectively reads as "go to Doncaster but expect disruption" rather than "stick with EMR if travelling now".

 

[tram21]

Now being covered on BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq58416zp13o?app-referrer=deep-link

Damage to overheard wires has blocked some rail lines travelling into London.

National Rail said damage to overhead wires at Radlett, Hertfordshire, has been affecting East Midlands Railway and Thameslink trains running between Bedford and London St Pancras International with services cancelled, delayed or revised, external.

Customers using Thameslink services have been advised that a reduced timetable is running between St Albans and Sutton, with no direct services between Luton and Rainham and Bedford and East Grinstead.

National Rail said the work is expected to last for most of the day as repairs to the line take place.

National Rail said the damage was to a section of track between Radlett and Elstree and Borehamwood which has stopped the line between Radlett and Kentish Town.

While all trains could only use one line, alterations to the services were expected.

East Midlands Railway said there is a reduced line into the capital with trains running hourly and has advised customers to continue to travel and use alternative routes.

National Rail added the incident was also disrupting trains on the Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Corby and London St Pancras International routes.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Aug 2025 ==

EMR now have their own dedicated page for this disruption which is unusual, but gives much clearer, direct information.

https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co....tions/disruption-intercity-and-connect-routes

 

[sh24]

Now being covered on BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq58416zp13o?app-referrer=deep-link


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Aug 2025 ==

EMR now have their own dedicated page for this disruption which is unusual, but gives much clearer, direct information.

https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co....tions/disruption-intercity-and-connect-routes

I’m quick to put the boot in, but the EMR page is well written, clearly set out and informative. Well done!