London Train Disruption Leaves Passengers Stranded for Hours

Investigation called for as thousands were trapped on cold, dark trains during a strike by train drivers, with Network Rail's CEO among those affected.

Damage to overhead electric cables in the Ladbroke Grove area of west London severely disrupted the Elizabeth line, Great Western Railway and Heathrow Express trains to and from Paddington station, leaving passengers stranded for hours in cold, dark trains.
The disruption occurred during a 24-hour strike by train drivers in the Aslef union on GWR and Heathrow Express services, and it is understood that the GWR train caught in the damaged wire was being driven by a manager while regular drivers were on strike.
London’s passenger watchdog, London TravelWatch, has called for an investigation into the incident, expressing concern over the “lack of communication and slow response time” after the stoppages.
Network Rail’s own chief executive, Andrew Haines, was also on board one of the stranded trains, which he described as a “painful experience”, and in a message to staff, he wrote that railways had “gone backwards on customer service”.
Engineers worked through the night to get two of the four lines serving Paddington open for electric trains, but commuters were warned that their journeys may be delayed by up to 90 minutes.