I have received the update below from GTR following the disruption to rail services
Services remain significantly disrupted across Thameslink and Great Northern routes and across wider rail routes in the midlands and south east. Our advice is that all Thameslink passengers that are able to avoid travelling should do so.
Full compensation will be paid to season ticket holders and day ticket holders that were unable to travel can either obtain a full refund or travel on Saturday 27th or Sunday 28th of July. On behalf of GTR, our partners at Network Rail and our colleagues across the industry, we would like to apologise for the significant disruption experienced by passengers. Emergency response teams are working to restore full services as soon as possible.
The disruption is the result of damage to the overhead power in the Kentish Town area, resulting in disruption to all train services on the Midland Main Line and disruption to the overhead power lines at Peterborough and at Ely to the north of Cambridge, in combination with the existing impact of the emergency speed restrictions in place across the entire network. Damage was also reported to the West Coast Main Line, affecting Euston and to the route between Cambridge and Liverpool Street.
The route towards Bedford from St Pancras International was partially restored by our colleagues at Network Rail at approximately 22:30, resulting in a resumption of a limited train service. However, as of 08:00 this morning, a passing EMT train has reported significant new damage to the section and the line was again temporarily blocked.
As a result, our train service is severely disrupted with train units and crews displaced across the network and several critical areas of track are either unavailable or damaged with a reduced number of trains able to operate. Ticket acceptance is in place, we are deploying additional emergency resource, but we are advising passengers with essential travel needs to use alternative routes wherever possible. Network Rail’s emergency response teams are on site but have advised that the damage cannot be repaired today and that work will continue throughout Friday night.
For the latest passenger information and advice, please refer to: