Trains disrupted after Essex line fires

Fires beside the railway near Chelmsford caused delays on the London to Norwich route, affecting several services from Liverpool Street.

Trains disrupted after Essex line fires

Rail passengers faced delays after multiple fires beside the line between Chelmsford and Ingatestone in Essex. The northbound London to Norwich mainline was blocked, forcing trains to be cancelled or diverted. By about 07:30 BST, fire crews and Network Rail had brought the flames under control and reopened the track. Officials warned that disruption could last until 10:45, with services from Liverpool Street to Braintree, Colchester, Clacton, Ipswich and Norwich affected.

Travelers were advised to check live updates and consider alternatives as the timetable is reworked to accommodate the disruption.

This incident shows how quickly a single safety event can ripple across a busy rail artery. The London to Norwich line serves many towns, so a block affects dozens of services and trips. The response time from fire authorities and Network Rail shapes how fast trains return to normal and how long passengers endure delays.

Officials' updates are crucial for travelers but may still leave people frustrated. If such incidents become more frequent, the rail network may face pressure to improve trackside safety measures and incident response times.

Highlights

As normal service resumes, officials will review what happened and how to prevent a repeat.