Dartford Crossing blocked and London flight cancellations spark holiday misery

Trains to and from London Charing Cross could be delayed or diverted to London Cannon Street after urgent repairs on the tracks.

It comes after Network Rail’s monitoring system found a track defect at platform five at Charing Cross, meaning the station has reduced capacity, National Rail alert says.

What services are affected?

• Southeastern trains
• Routes between Hastings, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford International, Dover Priory, Sevenoaks, Maidstone East, Hayes, Ramsgate, Faversham, Gravesend, Dartford and London Charing Cross
• Trains between Hastings and London Charing Cross could be diverted to and from Cannon Street station

When will service resume?

National Rail said that disruption is expected until 2pm.

The tunnel was closed shortly before 10am today after an incident, which has now been confirmed as a crash involving two vehicles.

Kent Police said it received a report of a ‘collision between a motorbike and a car inside the east tunnel on the M25 near the Dartford River Crossing.’

Emergency services are attending and traffic remains heavy in the area, the force confirmed.

National Highways said the eastbore tunnel is ‘fully open’ but there are 60-minute delays.

Here is what the queues looked like on the M25 on approach to Dartford south of the River Thames at 11.53am.

Dartford Tunnel has now reopened following an incident.

Traffic into the busy tunnel was closed by Kent Police after an incident which is thought to have been a crash.

But there are severe delays and congestion remains.

‘There are currently 60 minute delays with congestion back to J4 [Bromley] but these will start to ease now,’ National highways said on X.

National Highways has warned of 45-minute delays at Dartford after police closed the eastbound tunnel due to an incident.

Highways teams are on scene assisting Kent Police.

You should allow extra time for your journey and expect to sit in traffic if you’re travelling east (anticlockwise) from the M25 toward Dartford.

The airport train service between London to Gatwick Airport has now resumed back to normal after an earlier faulty signalling system between Victoria station and Clapham Junction.

You might be eligible for compensation if your train was delayed, so it’s worth checking with the company you booked your tickets with.

A fault with the signalling system between London Victoria and Brixton is causing disruption.

Southeastern trains between London Victoria and Ashford International and Gravesend, Gillingham, Ramsgate, Orpington, Dover Priory and Ashford International are affected.

Trains could be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or changed, with issues expected until 10.45am.

‘Network Rail response staff are on their way to investigate and fix the issue as soon as possible,’ National Rail said.

Drivers have been hit by 30-minute delays at Dartford after the tunnel was blocked.

National Highways said the eastbound tunnel is closed due to an incident.

Traffic appears to be queueing on approach to Dartford on the anticlockwise carriageway from J3 (M25/M20) and from the A2.

Passengers were warned of delays on the train line through Clapham Junction this morning after an earlier fault with the signalling system.

While all lines have since reopened, delays are still possible until about 10.30am, including on the Gatwick Express.

Two holiday flights have been cancelled at Gatwick Airport today.

Here is a list of the cancellations so far today according to Flightradar24.

at 10.40am to Orlando

at 3.05pm to New York JFK

The faulty train at Liverpool Street is also affecting travel on other central London Tube lines.

• Hammersmith & City – Severe delays between Barking and Hammersmith

• Metropolitan line – Severe delays between Baker Street and Aldgate

The Circle line in central London is partially suspended after a faulty train at Liverpool Street, TfL says.

There is currently no service anticlockwise.

Passengers can use their tickets on London Buses.

All trains between Cheshunt and Tottenham Hale station have been halted after an incident this morning, with passengers facing up to 60-minute delays.

Greater Anglia trains between Bishop’s Stortford/Hertford East and Straford and between Hertford East and London Liverpool Street are affected.

Major disruption is expected at least until 10am, National Rail warned.

Trains could be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or diverted.

Passengers at Heathrow face disruption after several flights were axed.

Here is a list of all the flights which appear as cancelled on the airport’s departure board and BA website.

at 6.10am to Barcelona

at 7.15am to Valencia

at 7.20am to Newcastle Upon Tyne

at 8.25am to Dublin

at 8.30am to Chicago

at 8.35am to Prague

at 9.10am to Stuttgart

at 9.30am to New York City

at 11.15am to Miami

at 4.05pm to New Orleans

at 4.25pm to Dallas Forth Worth

Have you been affected by the cancellations? Please email [email protected].

Elizabeth line has been hit by delays this morning, the latest TfL travel update shows.

The line between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport and Reading was disrupted after an earlier points failure at Southall.

The delays have been downgraded to ‘minor,’ but National Rail estimates delays are possible until about 9am.