- Amber weather warning issued for parts of England with persistent heavy rainfall.
- Major rail and tube disruptions in London and Southeast England.
- Flooding affects roads and key junctions, including parts of the M25.
Heavy rain has led to severe flooding across England and Wales, particularly in London and surrounding areas, where parts of the Chilterns saw a month’s worth of rainfall in just a few hours.
Flooded roads, including the A3 near the M25, have caused additional chaos for commuters. London Underground lines, such as the Bakerloo and Piccadilly, have also experienced closures due to waterlogged tracks.
Commuter Disruption Mounts Amid Torrential Rain and Flooding
Persistent heavy rainfall has brought widespread flooding and travel chaos to large parts of central and southern England, with the Met Office issuing amber and yellow weather warnings. London and the southeast were particularly hard-hit overnight, with many areas experiencing significant flooding after a month’s worth of rain fell in just a few hours. This led to severe disruptions to both rail and road networks during peak commuter hours on Monday.
Rail services operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) have been severely impacted, with reduced speeds and canceled trains across several lines. Stations like Selhurst remain closed due to heavy flooding, and routes connecting Brighton, Gatwick Airport, and East Croydon have been hit with delays. In addition, a signal failure between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings has compounded issues for commuters in the southeast.
London’s transport network has not been spared, with major Underground services, including the Bakerloo, District, and Piccadilly lines, suspended in flood-affected areas. Overground routes from South Acton to Richmond and Euston to Watford Junction have also faced significant delays. Thousands of commuters have been forced to seek alternative routes, with Transport for London advising passengers to use local buses where possible.
Flooding is not limited to rail networks, as key roadways have also suffered. The busiest section of the M25 at Junction 10 has seen slip road closures, causing massive delays for drivers heading into London. Highways England has issued warnings, asking drivers to plan alternative routes and expect prolonged delays while floodwaters are cleared. Another bout of rain expected later this week could exacerbate the ongoing issues, with colder Arctic air set to follow and drop temperatures significantly.
With heavy rain continuing to batter parts of the UK, residents are urged to stay vigilant and plan ahead as more disruptions are anticipated in the coming days. The combination of flooding and colder weather could create further complications for both travel and infrastructure.
“When flood water rises above the rails, trains have to reduce their speed to prevent damage to the train.” — Network Rail on the impact of flooding on train services.
