Train services on the West Coast Main Line faced major disruption after a large fire broke out in north London, forcing partial closures between London Euston and Watford Junction. The incident caused delays to long distance routes connecting London with major cities, including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow.
Fire Breaks Out in Chalk Farm Area
The fire started around 09:30 GMT at a commercial property on Regent’s Park Road in the Chalk Farm area. London Fire Brigade confirmed that around 70 firefighters responded to the emergency. Crews worked for several hours and brought the blaze under control by about 13:00.
At the peak of the incident, flames spread to nearby buildings. Firefighters reported that the ground floor of the main building suffered severe damage. Part of the roof of a neighboring property also caught fire. Seven people left another nearby building before emergency teams arrived. Fire officials confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Impact on Train Services
The fire affected railway infrastructure close to the West Coast Main Line. As a result, several lines between Euston and Watford Junction closed for safety checks. Although some routes have since reopened, train operators warned passengers to expect delays throughout the day.
Avanti West Coast said congestion on the rail network would continue to cause knock on delays. Some of its services heading to London stopped at stations as far north as Warrington. London Northwestern Railway initially suspended services from Euston but later resumed operations once conditions improved.
Advice for Passengers
Network Rail advised passengers traveling from London Euston to check their journey status before heading to the station. The company also confirmed that other train operators accepted tickets on affected routes to help ease disruption. Passengers can find updated travel information on Network Rail’s official channels.
Southern Railway restored services between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction after earlier delays. Transport for London reported no disruption on London Overground services running through the affected area, which provided some relief for commuters.
Ongoing Investigation
The fire occurred close to the site of a former hot yoga studio. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the blaze. Fire investigators are expected to examine the scene once it is safe to do so.
Rail services are gradually returning to normal, but delays remain possible as operators work to clear congestion and reset timetables.
