Fire near London’s Paddington station is causing chaos: Trains to and from Heathrow Airport are among services cancelled and delayed
A fire near London's Paddington station has caused widespread disruption to train services on the evening of Saturday 5 September 2026, with connections to and from Heathrow Airport among those cancelled or delayed. The blaze triggered an electricity supply failure, blocking all lines between Paddington and Heathrow, disrupting travel for passengers heading to and from the airport and prompting warnings for flyers to allow extra time for their journeys.
Heathrow Express and Reading overground services were suspended, London Underground trains through west London faced delays, and the Elizabeth Line was suspended between Paddington and Heathrow terminals four and five, with severe delays on the Abbey Wood branch. Great Western Railway warned of cancellations and delays at Reading until at least 7pm. The disruption came just hours after a separate grass fire forced Heathrow to close its southern runway, diverting one flight from San Francisco to Manchester and another from San Diego to Birmingham, though Heathrow later confirmed both runways were reopened and fully operational.
- Fire near Paddington station suspends Heathrow train and Underground services
- Electricity failure blocks all lines between Paddington and Heathrow
- Earlier grass fire had already shut Heathrow's southern runway
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Fire crews were called to a blaze near Paddington station in west London on the evening of Saturday 5 September 2026. The fire caused an electricity supply failure that knocked out power along key stretches of track, which is why services between Paddington and Heathrow Airport, along with several other routes, have been hit. Trains, the London Underground and the Elizabeth Line all rely on this stretch of infrastructure, which is why the disruption has spread across multiple operators rather than being confined to one line.
Paddington is one of London's main rail terminals and a key link to Heathrow, so disruption there affects both commuters and air passengers trying to reach flights. Operators affected include Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express and Transport for London, each responsible for different services running through or near the affected area. The knock-on effect for travellers has been delays, cancellations and advice to allow extra time for journeys, particularly for anyone heading to the airport.
This disruption follows a separate incident earlier the same day, when a grass fire near Heathrow forced the temporary closure of one of its two runways, causing some flights to be diverted to other airports. The two incidents are unrelated but have combined to disrupt travel to and from one of the world's busiest airports on the same day.