Commuters travelling on the Elizabeth line faced major dislocation this morning following a track fault near Hayes and Harlington in west London.
The issue has led to severe delays, cancellations, and overcrowding across several crucial routes, with problems anticipated to continue throughout the day.
According to National Rail, a “speed restriction over defective track near Hayes & Harlington means fewer trains can run through the affected area. As a result of this, trains between Reading, Heathrow Terminal 5 and London Paddington may be cancelled, delayed or revised.”
The Elizabeth line, Great Western Railway( GWR) and Heathrow Express services have all been hit by the dislocation, leaving thousands of passengers facing longer and more stressful peregrinations during the morning rush hour.
Ongoing delays across the Elizabeth line network
A broken section of track has caused significant delays across the Elizabeth line network, which connects Reading and Heathrow Airport to central and east London.
With the line being one of London’s busiest commuter routes, the issue has had a ripple effect on girding services, especially during peak hours.
Commuters at stations including Ealing Broadway, Southall, and Paddington have reported packed platforms and slower-than-usual services.
Many have taken to social media to share their frustrations, describing the situation as “chaotic” and “another bad day for the Elizabeth line.”
Full list of affected routes
Services impacted by the track fault and subsequent speed restrictions include:
- Elizabeth line: Between Reading / Maidenhead / Heathrow Terminal 4 and Abbey Wood
- Great Western Railway: Between Penzance, Plymouth, Paignton, Exeter St Davids, Weston-super-Mare, Carmarthen, Swansea, Cardiff Central, Hereford, Great Malvern, Cheltenham Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Bedwyn, Banbury, Oxford, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington
- Heathrow Express: Between Heathrow Terminal 5 and London Paddington
Passengers advised to plan ahead
Rail Masterminds are presently on point assessing the damage, but early reports suggest it’ll not be a quick fix. Network Rail has verified that dislocation is anticipated to last all day, and trippers are being prompted to check live updates before travelling.
For those heading to Heathrow Airport, officers recommend allowing extra time or considering indispensable transport options, such as the London Underground or train services, to avoid missing flights.
Commuter frustration grows
While the Elizabeth line has been a lifeline for commuters since its launch, recent months have seen several specialised issues and structural faults causing delays. The moment’s incident has reignited concerns over the trustworthiness of London’s newest rail service.
However, plans to introduce 10 new Elizabeth line trains in 2025 aim to ease congestion and improve reliability across the network.
One commuter wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Another day, another delay on the Elizabeth line. It’s getting really frustrating, especially when you rely on it to get to work on time.”
⚠ Travel Update – 11/11 ⚠
Due to a speed restriction over defective track at Hayes & Harlington, fewer trains are able to run.
Train services between Reading and London Paddington will be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Reading.
Twyford, Maidenhead…
— GWR (@GWRHelp) November 11, 2025
Despite the inconvenience, transport authorities have apologised for the disruption and assured passengers that teams are working around the clock to restore normal service.
When will Elizabeth Line services return to normal?
As of this autumn, there’s no clear timeframe for when the Elizabeth line and Great Western Railway services will completely recover. Still, officers anticipate the speed restrictions to remain in place until masterminds complete repairs and carry out safety checks.
Passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries, TfL’s live trip updates, or the Elizabeth line service status runner for the most up-to-date information.
