A railway tunnel near Heathrow Airport has closed, sparking major travel disruption on the route expected to last all day.
The tunnel in west London was forced to close this morning between Hayes and Harlington and Heathrow Terminals 4 and 5 for ‘safety reasons’, wreaking havoc on the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express.
The disruption is expected to affect rush hour services from Paddington.
National Rail said: ‘A tunnel has been closed for safety reasons between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Terminal 4 / Heathrow Terminal 5. As a result, some lines between these stations are closed.’
The issue is caused by a water leak in the tunnel, meaning only one railway line is available.
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Commuters joked about the disruption online after it was described as having been caused by flooding, despite weeks of dry weather.
One person wrote: ‘Severe delays due to flooding when I can’t remember the last time it rained takes some doing, sensational work Elizabeth line.’
What services are running to Heathrow Airport?
Two Heathrow Express trains per hour will connect Paddington and Heathrow Terminal T5 until the issue is resolved.
The disruption is expected to last until the end of the day.
Passengers trying to reach the airport can use their tickets on other services which are still running.
National Rail advises travellers to use Great Western Railway trains, London Underground Piccadilly line, or bus routes 105, 278, 350 or 482 to complete their journeys.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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