It is every Londoner’s nightmare. Thousands were trapped on Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express and Great Western Railway trains last night, many for as long as four hours, after a rail operator hit overhead powerlines in west London that are managed by Network Rail. Passengers on one train between Acton and Paddington were eventually evacuated and escorted along the tracks to safety.
Crossrail may have awesome new central stations and track, but much of it also relies on older, congested sections where the line must be shared with other operators. It is these overhead power cables between Paddington and Heathrow airport that are the Elizabeth line’s Achilles’ heel. There are plans for modernisation over the next few years, but they remain subject to funding approval from the Office of Rail and Road.
