Thieves struck at dawn, stealing vital cables around Shenfield Station this morning (October 11). The robbery, first reported at 5am, has wiped out signalling between Shenfield, Romford, and London, grinding train services to a halt.
Lines Blocked, Delays Expected Until Afternoon
All lines at Shenfield Station are currently blocked. National Rail warns disruption will last “at least” until 12.30pm. Trains between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield face cancellations, leaving commuters stranded.
Response Teams Scramble to Fix Damage
Network Rail and British Transport Police teams are on-site, racing to replace the stolen cables. No clear timeline yet for when services will resume.
Elizabeth line trains now run only between Heathrow Airport / London Paddington and Gidea Park. Stations including Harold Wood, Brentwood, and Shenfield remain cut off.
Ticket Chaos? Restrictions Lifted
National Rail has lifted ticket restrictions for today. Tickets will also be valid on Greater Anglia services tomorrow (October 12) with no extra cost.
Free travel options include:
- c2c trains between London Fenchurch Street / West Ham and Southend Central
- Great Northern and Thameslink services from London Kings Cross to Cambridge and Ely
- Central Connect buses on route 12 between Wickford and Billericay
- London Underground routes between Liverpool Street and London Kings Cross
- Circle line between Liverpool Street and Tower Hill (for London Fenchurch Street)
- Jubilee line between Stratford and West Ham
The British Transport Police have been contacted for further details as the investigation continues.
