A trackside fire near Rugby has caused major disruption on the West Coast Main Line, the UK's busiest railway route, blocking northbound lines between London Euston and Rugby. Passengers on Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services face cancellations, delays of up to 70 minutes, and revised schedules, with disruption expected to last until the end of the day.
Incident Details and Impact
National Rail confirmed that a fire next to the track at Rugby blocked the northbound lines. Trains running through Rugby may be cancelled, delayed by up to 70 minutes, or revised. Passengers took to social media to express frustration, with one traveler stuck at Tring station in Hertfordshire for over an hour questioning why trains on other lines were moving.
Advice for Affected Passengers
Avanti West Coast warned that trains passing through Rugby and Milton Keynes might be delayed, diverted, or cancelled. Customers can use their tickets on Chiltern Railways between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street, and on Transport for Wales between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly, as well as between Crewe and Holyhead. London Northwestern Railway is operating rail replacement services between Northampton and Coventry via Long Buckby, and between Coventry and Birmingham International.
Affected Routes
- Avanti West Coast: London Euston to Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Chester, Wrexham General, Holyhead, Crewe, Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Preston, Blackpool North, Glasgow Central, and Edinburgh.
- London Northwestern Railway: Milton Keynes Central or Northampton to Birmingham New Street, and London Euston to Birmingham New Street, Walsall, or Crewe.
