A smouldering railway sleeper caused disruption on September 25, 2026, blocking lines between Stratford and Bethnal Green and delaying train services between London Liverpool Street and Ipswich. Safety checks led to line closures and required train diversions around the affected track.
Routes Affected and Response
The disruption impacted several routes serving London Liverpool Street including those to Norwich, Clacton, Colchester Town, Braintree, and Southend Victoria. Network Rail engineers were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the smouldering sleeper, which is a key component of the track infrastructure, often made from wood and prone to smouldering in some cases.
Greater Anglia’s Official Response
Greater Anglia confirmed that advance purchase
ticket holders are permitted to travel on earlier or later trains if their booked service was cancelled. A company spokesperson said, “Advance purchase ticket holders will be allowed to travel on earlier or later trains if their booked service is cancelled.” The spokesperson also extended apologies for the inconvenience caused by the disruption, expressing regret on behalf of both Greater Anglia and Network Rail.
