The Elizabeth line was suspended through London until at least midday today following over-running engineering works, causing morning rush-hour chaos.
Transport for London (TfL) apologised, saying no trains were running in the central section between Paddington in the west and Abbey Wood or Stratford in the east.
There were also severe delays between Paddington and both Heathrow Airport and Reading in the west. Network Rail said: ‘Major disruption is expected until 12pm.’
Meanwhile TfL also reported that there was also no service on the Circle Line clockwise and severe delays anti-clockwise due to a points failure at Edgware Road.
The same problem also meant there was no District line between Edgware Road and High Street Kensington, and severe delays on the Hammersmith and City line.
The disruption came on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far – and affected many air-conditioned parts of the network, meaning commuters will instead likely have to travel on buses or other lines that are not so well ventilated.
One traveller called Luke posted a photograph of closed shutters at Woolwich station, tweeting TfL to say: ‘Pretty poor show to take out such an important link.
Massive queues at London Paddington station this morning due to the Elizabeth line closure
No Elizabeth line trains are running from Woolwich station in South East London this morning
Passengers outside Woolwich station this morning after all Elizabeth line trains are cancelled
Passengers on one of the Elizabeth line trains that is running outside the central section today
Staff outside Woolwich station in South East London today as the Elizabeth line is suspended
‘I’m up early to get a 20 minute bus to the station, heading to a 7.30am spin class. Impossible to make it now, so back on the bus to head home and shower for work.’
Greg McCaw asked TfL: Why is the Elizabeth line so unreliable? It must be every week since I’ve moved to London, there’s something.’
And Briony McKinn said: ‘Yet again… TfL and Network Rail showing their competence with the Elizabeth line. Today’s issue is late running engineering works. Absolute jokers!’
Another passenger in Woolwich called Martin tweeted: ‘Elizabeth line down, but passengers only find out when they get up to the station entrance.’
A TfL spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We apologise to Elizabeth line customers for the disruption to their journeys this morning.
‘This was caused by a fault with an engineering train overnight. We are working as quickly as possible to restore a normal service.’
TfL added that Elizabeth line tickets were valid on London buses, Underground, DLR, Southeastern, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway and Thameslink trains.
Earlier, a TfL travel update said: ‘No service between Abbey Wood / Stratford and Paddington and severe delays between Paddington and Heathrow Airport / Reading due to a late finish to engineering work. Minor delays on the rest of the line.’
And Network Rail said: ‘Over-running engineering works between London Paddington and Whitechapel means all lines are blocked. As a result service is suspended between London Paddington and Stratford / Abbey Wood. Major disruption is expected until 12pm.
‘Services between Reading / Heathrow Terminals and London Paddington can still run but these services will be reduced with no trains calling at Heathrow Terminal 5.
‘Services between London Paddington and Shenfield will be cancelled or revised to run between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Services between London Paddington and Abbey Wood will be cancelled.’
The £18.9billion Elizabeth line has suffered a series of problems since opening in May 2022, including when thousands of passengers were stranded last December just outside Paddington because of a problem with overhead wires.
