A trackside grass fire near Scrubs Lane, North Kensington, caused a complete halt of all train services to and from Heathrow Airport shortly after 16:00 BST on 5 September 2026. National Rail declared a major disruption after the fire led to a failure of the electricity supply next to the railway tracks, blocking all lines between London Paddington station, Heathrow terminals, and Reading.
Emergency Response to Grass Fire
Six fire engines and approximately 40 personnel from the London Fire Brigade responded to the blaze. The crews worked through the night near the railway lines to extinguish the fire. The southern runway at Heathrow was also
closed earlier on the same day due to a separate grass fire on the airfield, which resulted in the diversion of at least two flights.
Train Service Cancellations and Impact on Rail Users
Great Western Railway cancelled all services to Reading following the incident. Additionally, no Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express train services operated between Paddington and Heathrow Airport on the evening of 5 September. Delays were also reported on the Piccadilly line, which serves Heathrow. Network Rail Western issued warnings of possible delays and cancellations continuing into Sunday morning due to displaced trains.
Travel Advisories, Service Resumption, and Passenger Conditions
Heathrow Airport advised passengers to allow extra time for journeys and acknowledged delays on
the Piccadilly line. By Sunday morning, the London Fire Brigade had extinguished the fire, enabling the resumption of normal train services. Reports indicated crowds of stranded passengers at London Paddington station, a key hub affected by the disruption.
The grass fire on 5 September follows a previous incident weeks earlier near Heathrow’s southern runway that forced diversion of 18 flights and destroyed extensive grassland. Despite recent cooling weather, the Met Office’s Fire Severity Index showed “high” to “exceptional” fire risk levels in the Heathrow area and southeast England, underscoring ongoing wildfire threats in the region.
National Rail’s official statement on
the incident confirmed a “major disruption” to services beginning shortly after 16:00 BST, with all lines blocked between Paddington, Heathrow, and Reading due to the fire-caused electrical supply failure.
