A major signalling failure has thrown travel plans into chaos for thousands of passengers, with urgent warnings issued to avoid journeys from one of London's busiest stations.
Widespread Disruption Across Key Routes
The disruption began on November 21, 2025, and is centred on a significant signalling fault in the Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent area. This has brought the vital West Coast Main Line to a standstill during one of the week's peak travel periods.
All train operators using the route are affected, leading to severe delays of up to 90 minutes and numerous cancellations. The problem is so substantial that engineers expect the disruption to last throughout the entire day.
Passengers Stranded and Plans Ruined
The impact on travellers was immediate and profound. Many passengers found themselves stranded on stationary trains along the main line.
One NHS worker, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her frustration with Metro. Her train from Euston to Manchester was halted and diverted to Nuneaton, causing her to miss a work presentation she had been preparing for weeks. She expressed feeling disheartened, adding that this was the sixth time in three weeks her travel between Manchester and London had been disrupted, requiring a refund claim for every single journey.
Official Advice and Affected Services
Avanti West Coast has taken the drastic step of suspending all its departures from London Euston. This includes crucial services to and from Manchester, Liverpool, Scotland, and North Wales.
The operator's official guidance is clear: do not attempt to travel today on any of the affected routes. Tickets dated for today will be accepted for travel on Saturday, November 22.
The following train companies and routes are experiencing significant disruption:
- Avanti West Coast: Services between London Euston and Chester, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Holyhead, Liverpool Lime Street, and Manchester Piccadilly.
- CrossCountry: Services between Birmingham New Street, Bournemouth, Bristol Temple Meads, Paignton, and Manchester Piccadilly.
- East Midlands Railway: Services between Newark Castle, Nottingham, and Crewe.
- London Northwestern Railway: Services between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street, and between London Euston, Stafford, and Crewe.
- Northern: Services between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester Piccadilly.
Passengers are advised to check for live updates from their train operator before considering any travel and to expect ongoing issues throughout the day.
