Euston Station descended into chaos on Wednesday as passengers faced severe delays and cancellations due to a combination of a heatwave and signalling faults. Departure boards showed numerous services cancelled or delayed, with crowds packing the concourse reminiscent of scenes that went viral the previous day.
The disruption was caused by a fault with the signalling system between Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted, blocking some lines. This affected Avanti West Coast services to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Holyhead and Edinburgh, as well as London Northwestern Railway and Overground services. Trains between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central faced cancellations or delays of up to 30 minutes.
The heatwave, which saw temperatures reach record June highs, also contributed to slower and fewer services. Service providers including Northern and Avanti West Coast reduced operations, advising passengers to travel only if necessary. Trains from London Euston to Manchester were among those cancelled or delayed, with the 6.53pm and 7.53pm services to Manchester Piccadilly severely delayed as of 8pm.
Passengers expressed frustration on social media, with one describing the station as a 'hell hole' and another calling for its demolition. The UK Health Security Agency issued red heat health alerts for several regions, including London, urging people to stay indoors and hydrated.
