Commuters face severe disruption on the London Underground this morning (Wednesday, August 19) after a fire alert at Farringdon halted the entire Hammersmith and City line. The Circle line is also experiencing severe delays, while a separate fire in Deptford has suspended the Overground Windrush line.
Fire alert at Farringdon halts Hammersmith and City line
The fire alert at Farringdon has caused a complete stop of service on the Hammersmith and City line, according to Transport for London (TfL). The Circle line is also severely delayed as a result. TfL has advised passengers to use alternative routes and check live updates before traveling.
In addition, the Windrush line is not operating this morning due to a massive fire in Deptford that occurred overnight. The extent of the damage and the expected duration of the suspension have not yet been confirmed.
Other lines affected by delays and suspensions
Several other lines are also experiencing disruptions. The District line has minor delays between Barking and Upminster due to a fire alert at Upminster Bridge, and between Earl's Court and Richmond/Ealing Broadway due to an obstruction on the track at Chiswick Park. The Elizabeth line has minor delays between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport following an earlier faulty train at the airport.
The Piccadilly line will have no service today and tomorrow (August 20) between Cockfosters and Uxbridge, though trains will continue to operate between Acton Town and Heathrow. This is a planned suspension, according to TfL.
Advice for passengers
TfL is urging passengers to plan their journeys using its journey planning tool, which accommodates the latest updates to provide the smoothest route. The tool is available on the TfL website and app.
Passengers are advised to allow extra travel time and consider alternative modes of transport, such as buses or the Overground, where available. TfL has not yet provided an estimated time for the resumption of full service on the affected lines.
