Train operators have restored services between London Paddington and Reading following a grass fire close to the tracks in North Kensington that caused a local electricity supply failure and significant disruption on Saturday afternoon.
Fire forced lines to close and passengers evacuated
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it sent six fire engines and around 40 crew members to tackle the blaze near Scrubs Lane, which was first reported shortly after 4.10pm on Saturday. National Rail said the incident caused an electricity supply problem that blocked all lines between Paddington and Heathrow, affecting the Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express and Great Western Railway (GWR).
Transport agencies and the fire service worked together to evacuate passengers. Around 380 people who were stranded on an Elizabeth line train were taken off the service by LFB and Transport for London teams, National Rail confirmed.
National Rail described the disruption as “major”.
By Sunday morning operators said the immediate disruption had ended and services were running again, though with alterations and some reduced timetables as a ripple effect from the outage.
What was affected and when
Disruption came alongside pre-planned engineering work between Paddington and Burnham, meaning some lines were due to be closed overnight and into the early hours of Sunday. That work already meant Elizabeth line trains did not operate between Paddington and Ealing Broadway from 2am until 7.40am on Sunday.
After 7.40am, operators said Elizabeth line services to and from Maidenhead and Reading were running to an amended timetable. GWR said some early services had been retimed but by Sunday morning it was reporting a “good service” across most of its network.
| Service | Reported impact |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth line | Lines blocked between Paddington and Heathrow; amended timetable to Maidenhead/Reading after 7.40am |
| Heathrow Express | Temporarily affected by the line block |
| Great Western Railway (GWR) | Some early services retimed; good service reported later |
Local impact and practical information
- Passengers who were on the stranded Elizabeth line train — about 380 people — were evacuated by the fire service and TfL.
- Those planning travel between Paddington and Reading should check GWR and Elizabeth line notices for amended timetables and potential reduced services.
- Travel to Heathrow may still be affected; travellers should allow extra time or seek alternatives if travelling today.
The location of the blaze, close to Scrubs Lane, produced large plumes of smoke visible from parts of west London and caused concern locally. Photographs circulating on social media captured the scale of the smoke, prompting a swift emergency response.
Operators and emergency services coordinated response
National Rail, TfL, GWR and London Fire Brigade all gave updates as the situation developed. While services resumed, operators cautioned that timetables remained amended and that ongoing engineering work would continue to affect early Sunday services.
GWR, in its morning update, said it was operating a “good service” across most of its network following the earlier disruption. Passengers with planned journeys were advised to consult operator websites or live travel apps for the latest information.
The incident underlines how infrastructure close to the rail corridor can rapidly affect large numbers of passengers and highlights the complexity of restoring power and services after a nearby fire. Emergency crews and transport staff worked through the night to clear the site and allow engineers to verify the safety of electrical systems and trackside equipment.
I was at Paddington after the smoke cleared and saw staff assisting travellers and directing people towards replacement options. While services have now resumed, commuters should remain vigilant for further notices and allow extra time when travelling via Paddington today.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor operator updates and publish any further travel warnings or service changes as they are announced.
