London travel news LIVE: Rush hour chaos as flooding closes Paddington Tube station

Paddington underground station has been forced to close due to heavy flooding just before rush hour.

A notice on the TfL website reads: “This station is closed due to flooding caused by heavy rain.”

Passengers can still use the Elizabeth Line by leaving the station via the exit at platform 1 and entering the Elizabeth Line station using the lifts or escalators.

It comes amid heavy rain in the capital, with 14 flood alerts in place across London as of 5pm on Tuesday.

Follow latest London travel and transport updates below

Key Points

• QE2 Bridge closed amid police incident

• Delays of more than three hours on M25

• Bridge reopens but severe delays at crossing remain

Reduced service at Brixton expected until 10pm

Tuesday 12 March 2024 20:20 , Daniel Keane

A problem with the station lighting at Brixton means that fewer trains are able to call at this station, according to National rail.

Trains through this station may be cancelled and disruption is expected until 10pm.

Severe delays on the Piccadilly Line

Tuesday 12 March 2024 19:45 , Daniel Keane

There are severe delays between Arnos Grove and Hammersmith due to an earlier signal failure at Chiswick Park.

There are minor delays on the rest of the line.

Disruption through Lewisham expected until 7.30pm

Tuesday 12 March 2024 18:33 , Daniel Keane

A broken down train at Lewisham means train services running through the station may be cancelled, delayed or revised, according to National Rail.

Disruption is expected until 7.30pm.

Minor delays on Bakerloo Line

Tuesday 12 March 2024 18:00 , Daniel Keane

There are currently minor delays on the Bakerloo Line due to a shortage of trains.

Paddington tube station forced to close due to heavy flooding

Tuesday 12 March 2024 17:09 , Daniel Keane

Paddington underground station has been forced to close due to heavy flooding just before rush hour.

A notice on the TfL website reads: “This station is closed due to flooding caused by heavy rain.”

Minor delays on District Line

Tuesday 12 March 2024 16:38 , Daniel Keane

There are minor delays between Barking and Tower Hill westbound due to an earlier faulty train at West Ham, TfL have said.

Update: St Pancras delays to last until 8pm

Tuesday 12 March 2024 16:03 , Daniel Keane

Delays to services between London St Pancras International and St Albans will last until 8pm, National Rail have said.

Disruption between London St Pancras International and St Albans expected until 5pm

Tuesday 12 March 2024 15:26 , Jordan King

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Kentish Town all lines are currently disrupted.

Trains running between London St Pancras International and St Albans may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised.

The following routes are affected:

• East Midlands Railway services between London St Pancras International and Corby / Nottingham / Sheffield

• Thameslink services between St Albans and Sutton, and between Kentish Town / West Hampstead Thameslink and Orpington, and between Luton and Orpington / Rainham, also between Bedford and Brighton / East Grinstead / Gatwick Airport / Three Bridges

Delays to Piccadilly line now minor

Tuesday 12 March 2024 15:20 , Jordan King

Delays that were severe are now minor - because of an earlier signal failure at Chiswick Park.

Central line no longer delayed

Tuesday 12 March 2024 14:38 , Jordan King

The Central line has returned to running a good service.

Change to Piccadilly Line delays

Tuesday 12 March 2024 14:12 , Jordan King

We told you earlier about how the Piccadilly Line is part suspended, it is now severely delayed instead - due to an earlier signal failure at Chiswick Park.

Minor delays on Central line

Tuesday 12 March 2024 13:49 , Josh Salisbury

A faulty train is causing minor delays between Leytonstone and Ealing Broadway on the Central Line, TfL has said.

Engineers are working to fix the fault. There is a good service on the rest of the line.

Key section of M25 to be closed this weekend

Tuesday 12 March 2024 12:19 , Josh Salisbury

A key section of the M25 will be closed this weekend for engineering works.

From 9pm on Friday to 6am on Monday March 18, National Highways will shut the M25 in both directions between junctions 10 and 11.

Junction 10 is where the M25 meets the A3 to Guildford and Portsmouth, while Junction 11 links to the A320 between Staines and Woking.

It will be the first ever scheduled daytime all-lanes shutdown of the M25 since it first opened in 1986.

Delays on Metropolitan over flooding

Tuesday 12 March 2024 12:02 , Josh Salisbury

There are significant delays on the outer reaches on the Metropolitian Line because heavy rain has caused flooding.

The delays affect the track between Moor Park and Chesham, and there’s a good service on the rest of the line.

Streets and pubs in central London have also been placed under flood alerts as high spring tides could cause the River Thames to burst its banks.

Londoners have been told to prepare for flooding along the river stretching from the Thames Barrier through to west London.

Major Thames tunnel 'intermittently closed' over congestion

Tuesday 12 March 2024 11:31 , Josh Salisbury

Motorists are being warned of heavy traffic at the Rotherhithe Tunnel, the major crossing which connects south and east London.

TfL says the tunnel is being closed intermittently due to congestion.

Piccadilly Line part-suspended

Tuesday 12 March 2024 11:00 , Josh Salisbury

The Piccadilly Line is suspended between Acton Town and King's Cross St. Pancras, and severely delayed on the rest of the line, because of a signal failure at Chiswick Park.

TfL says London buses and Elizabeth line are accepting tickets for alternative routes.

Delays of up to two hours as crossing reopens

Tuesday 12 March 2024 10:55 , Josh Salisbury

National Highways has advised delays of two hours remain on the M25 clockwise and an hour and a half anti-clockwise.

While both the QEII Bridge and the tunnels which make up the crossing have now reopened, traffic is “expected to take some time to clear”.

QEII Bridge reopens but severe delays remain

Tuesday 12 March 2024 10:41 , Josh Salisbury

The QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing has now reopened after an earlier police incident over concern for a man’s welfare.

However, severe delays remain, with motorists being warned of current three-hour delays or more on normal journey times.

National Highways said: “Severe delays remain in both directions approaching the crossing.

“Please allow extra journey time this morning.”

QEII Bridge being reopened after police incident

Tuesday 12 March 2024 10:22 , Josh Salisbury

Highway officials have said they are now in the process of reopening the QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing.

Traffic was held in the area earlier as police responded to concerns for a man’s welfare, with delays of up to three-and-a-half hours for motorists.

“We are now in the process of re-opening the #A282 #QEIIBridge southbound at #DartfordCrossing,” said National Highways on social media.

“The contraflow in the eastbore tunnel has now been removed.

“We'll have you moving again as soon as we can. Thanks for your patience this morning.”

Motorists share pictures of M25 delays

Tuesday 12 March 2024 10:12 , Josh Salisbury

Motorists stuck in long delays at the M25 near the Dartford Crossing have shared pictures from the scene.

One said: “Whatever you do, don't come this way. I've been stuck here for over an hour.”

Thameslink Kent commuter services disrupted

Tuesday 12 March 2024 09:55 , Josh Salisbury

A fault with the signalling system at Rainham means lines are disrupted in the area, meaning trains running between Rainham and Gillingham may be revised.

Thameslink has advised that disruption is expected to continue until 11.30.

Services that usually run to or from Rainham station will instead terminate and restart from Gillingham.

Police incident expected 'to be resolved soon'

Tuesday 12 March 2024 09:42 , Josh Salisbury

National Highways says that there is still a three-hour delay on the approach to the bridge.

However, it adds: “We're expecting the incident to conclude shortly.”

According to its online map, it is expecting traffic to begin flowing more normally at around 11am.

“Normal” traffic conditions are expected to resume around noon.

Lifeboat dispatched to scene at Dartford Crossing

Tuesday 12 March 2024 09:12 , Josh Salisbury

A lifeboat was dispatched to the scene at the Dartford Bridge crossing as police deal with concerns over a person’s welfare.

Gravesend RNLI was requested to launch by HM Coastguard at 6.15am this morning to assist Essex Police.

The lifeboat currently remains on scene, a spokesperson said.

Motorists are being warned of delays of up to three-and-a-half hours on the M25 near the bridge as police respond to the incident.

Minor delays on large stretch of Central Line

Tuesday 12 March 2024 08:52 , Josh Salisbury

A faulty train in causing minor delays between White City in west London and Leytonstone in east London, TfL says.

Engineers are working to fix the train at Queensway. There is a good service on the rest of the line, commuters are being advised.

Severe delays on Overground route

Tuesday 12 March 2024 08:23 , Josh Salisbury

There is currently severe disruption on the Overground running to and from New Cross.

TfL said this was due to a passenger being taken ill on a train.

As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised on the line between Dalston Junction and New Cross.

Disruption is expected until 9.15am.

Police urge patience as they respond to incident

Tuesday 12 March 2024 08:15 , Josh Salisbury

Essex Police has urged patience as they respond to concerns for the welfare of a man on the Dartford River Crossing.

“The incident was reported to us shortly after 6am this AM,” said the force.

“Traffic is being held on the crossing as we work to bring the situation to a safe conclusion.

“We of course understand this action will impact on people's journeys and we will provide an update on the situation as soon as we practically can. “We would urge patience as we work to resolve the incident.”

Delays 'of up to 206 minutes' on M25

Tuesday 12 March 2024 08:07 , Josh Salisbury

Motorists should expect delays ‘of 206 minutes’ on the M25 as police respond to the Darford Crossing bridge incident, the AA’s traffic monitoring service says.

Traffic is building back to Junction 29 A127 Romford, as well as on the A13 back to Wennington and Orsett and through Thurrock and Grays.

QE2 Bridge closed amid police incident

Tuesday 12 March 2024 08:01 , Josh Salisbury

The A282 QEII Bridge at Dartford Crossing is closed southbound due to an ongoing police-led incident, National Highways has said.

The eastbore tunnel has also been closed northbound to provide a diversion for southbound traffic, it added.

There is currently a two-hour delay on the M25 clockwise approaching the crossing.

Essex Police said it was dealing with concerns for the welfare of a man on the Dartford River Crossing.

Traffic is being held at the crossing while police respond.