Elizabeth line and GWR trains face major disruption between London Paddington and Reading

Update 5pm: Elizabeth line services will be 'severely reduced' from 7pm this evening, to allow engineers to complete urgent repair works on the line between London Paddington and Reading. 

Damage to overhead electricity cables was identified early this morning and mass disruption has continued to affect Elizabeth line, Great Western Railway and Heathrow Express trains all day. 

Problems are not expected to be resolved until the end of the day, National Rail has said.

Update 3.45pm: A limited service continues to operate between London Paddington and Reading, including most trains stopping at Maidenhead and Slough. 

A broken down freight train near Reading which added to the disruption earlier today is now on the move, National Rail has said, but passengers can still expect up to 45 minutes of delays.

Work remains ongoing to fix the overhead power cabling in the Ladbroke Grove area on approach to Paddington, which was found to be damaged this morning. However, repair work is not expected to be completed until the end of the day. 

Elizabeth line services, Great Western Railway (GWR) and Heathrow Express services are all experiencing delays, cancellations and timetable revisions. Check the National Rail website for the latest travel information.

A statement on the GWR website said: "A freight train had broken down earlier today, blocking a key junction near Reading station meaning that we were previously unable to run any services. The failed train has now been moved, allowing services to resume.

"Overhead Line Equipment is the name given to the overhead wires and other equipment on electrified railway lines that provides power to the trains. This is unlikely to be fixed until the end of the day."

#LondonPaddington - The visual disruption map video has been updated#DisruptionVideos

ℹ️ Full video can be found here: https://t.co/h8o4CxCIa9 pic.twitter.com/kFJ9xOzezm

— National Rail (@nationalrailenq) January 6, 2026

Update 1.30pm: Trains heading to and from London Paddington Station may be cancelled or delayed by up to 75 minutes, National Rail has said, as major disruption continues on the line.

A message on the National Rail website said no trains can run between Paddington and Reading due to a broken-down freight train near Reading Station. Disruption began early this morning after engineers found damage to overhead power cables.

National Rail said on its website: "A freight train has failed outside of Reading station, causing further disruption to journeys.

"All trains currently cannot run between London Paddington to Reading until [the] freight train has moved.

"As a result, trains running between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport / Reading may be cancelled, severely delayed by up to 75 minutes, or revised.

Update 9.30am: National Rail has said train disruption this morning affects Elizabeth line, GWR and Heathrow Express services to and from London Paddington. 

Two Elizabeth line trains are running hourly between Reading and Abbey Wood, GWR services have also been reduced, while Heathrow Express services are running half-hourly.

A message on National Rail's website said: "Damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Greenford / Heathrow Terminal 5 / Reading means a significantly reduced service will run.

"As a result, trains running between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport / Reading may be cancelled or severely delayed. Trains are unable to run between West Ealing and Greenford.

"Major disruption is expected until the end of the day."

Trains operating between London Paddington and Reading are experiencing major disruption today following damage to overhead power cables.

National Rail warned passengers that services on the line, which services Maidenhead and Slough, ‘may be cancelled or severely delayed’ throughout the day.

Elizabeth line trains are experiencing ‘severe delays’ and Great Western Railway (GWR) services to and from the capital are also running at reduced capacity as disruption continues.

A statement from GWR said damage had been found on the overhead power lines in the Ladbroke Grove area, on approach to London Paddington.

The company added: “Whilst engineers are fixing the damage, our train service will have to be reduced between London Paddington and Reading.

“The problem affects all of the four lines between London Paddington and Reading, so we are having to reduce the train service through the area to avoid congestion.”

For the latest travel information, visit the National Rail website.