London's Underground network has been plunged into severe disruption during the evening rush hour on Wednesday, 17th December 2025, with a cascade of suspensions and major delays affecting numerous key lines.
Multiple Incidents Cause Widespread Disruption
The chaos stems from three separate incidents occurring in quick succession. The primary cause is a points failure at Aldgate station, which has severely impacted services in the City. This was compounded by a faulty train at Fulham Broadway and a separate operational incident at a Bakerloo line depot.
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed the issues, which have created a domino effect across the network. As of 3:45pm on the 17th, the situation remained critical for thousands of commuters attempting to travel across the capital.
Which Tube Lines Are Affected?
The scale of the disruption is significant, with eight lines reporting major problems. The following lines are experiencing severe issues:
- Bakerloo Line: Partially suspended between Harrow & Wealdstone and Queen's Park, with minor delays on the rest of the route to Elephant & Castle.
- Circle Line: Partially suspended between Moorgate and Edgware Road, with minor delays on the remainder of the loop.
- District Line: Partially suspended between Edgware Road and Earl's Court. Severe delays are in place on the branches from Earl's Court to both Barking and Wimbledon.
- Hammersmith & City Line: The entire line is currently suspended.
- Metropolitan Line: Partially suspended between Aldgate and Baker Street.
- Piccadilly Line: Severe delays across the entire line.
- Waterloo & City Line ("Weaver"): Severe delays on the entire line.
- Central Line: Minor delays across the entire line.
TfL has stated that there is a good service operating on all other Underground lines not listed above.
Commuters Face Rush Hour Gridlock
The timing of the failures, hitting during the busy evening peak, has led to significant overcrowding at major interchange stations. Passengers are being advised to allow considerable extra time for their journeys and to check live TfL travel updates before setting out.
Alternative routes, including buses, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), and London Overground, are expected to be much busier than usual. The disruption comes at a particularly difficult time in mid-December, with many people travelling for festive events and last-minute shopping.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Transport for London for further comment on the incidents and estimated recovery times. This remains a developing story, and further updates are expected.
