Thousands of commuters were stuck on cold, dark trains for hours

Thursday night saw thousands of commuters, including singer James Blunt, stranded on cold, dark trains for hours due to damage to overhead electricity wires after a train struck an obstruction outside London Paddington. The collision necessitated switching off power, leading to footage showing people huddled in darkness, with young children crying. Eventually, trains were evacuated, and passengers walked along railway tracks to safety. Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, and Elizabeth line services were affected, and National Rail warned of "major disruption" continuing until at least noon today.

All lines between Paddington and Acton Main Line remain blocked, potentially resulting in short-notice cancellations or delays of up to 90 minutes. Specialist engineers are addressing the fault, and the repair work, due to its high-risk nature, may take a considerable amount of time. Passengers stranded on social media described agitated individuals and doors being kicked.

 Many reported a lack of information from train crews, along with issues accessing toilets. James Blunt, using X (formerly Twitter), appealed for takeaway pizza during his four-hour ordeal outside Paddington. Countdown presenter Rachel Riley shared her experience of being stuck on the Elizabeth line for nearly four hours. Travelers planning to use the network today are advised to seek alternative routes. Simultaneously, a new wave of rail strikes in the North of England has commenced, with Aslef union members on Northern Trains and TransPennine Express walking out in a longstanding pay dispute. Services are likely to be canceled, and the industrial action could lead to additional disruption on Saturday.