Commuter chaos in London as all Thameslink lines are blocked

2 October 2019, 09:43

Thameslink trains were delayed today
Thameslink trains were delayed today. Picture: PA

By Asher McShane

Commuters were hit with rush hour chaos this morning after a large number of Thameslink rail services were cancelled or delayed due to damaged overhead electric wires between St Pancras International and Blackfriars.

Thameslink said that "all of its lines" were blocked and advised commuters to avoid Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and St Pancras International stations.

Network Rail said shortly after 8am that its engineers had fixed the fault and that trains were moving, but warned there are still cancellations and delays in place.

"Although the infrastructure is now fixed, trains are being reintroduced gradually," Network Rail said in a Twitter post.

"We have to do this because trains have been backed up until the railway was fixed and to bring all services back instantly would cause huge congestion."