Chiltern Main Line @NetworkRailCML ??Due to heavy flooding the railway line between Banbury and Bicester is closed ?? Please check @nationalrailenq before you travel Thank you for your patience while our teams work hard to deal with the flooding

The Chiltern Railway was underwater this morning (Image: Network Rail)

Commuters are waking up to travel woes this morning as more rain and flooding blocked train lines and highways.

The M5 near Bristol is blocked in both directions due to flooding this morning, with cars stuck in the closure and unable to turn around.

The motorway is closed northbound between junctions 16 and 14, and southbound between junctions 14 and 15.

Meanwhile, the A421 in Bedfordshire was closed for the fifth consecutive day due to flash flooding on Sunday.

For rail commuters, the line between Bicester North and Banbury is blocked again due to flooding, affecting Chiltern Railway services in the area.

And the high winds meant trains between Newcastle and Edinburgh had to run at reduced speeds, affecting all CrossCountry, LNER, Lumo and TransPennine Express services.


Official diversion route for M5 floods

Northbound traffic must follow the solid triangle symbol:

  • Exit the M5 at J16 onto the A38
  • Follow it to rejoin the M5 at J14

Southbound traffic must follow the solid circle symbol:

  • Exit the M5 at J14 and at the end of the slip road turn right onto the B4509 westbound
  • At the junction with the A38 turn left onto the A38 southbound, towards Bristol
  • Continue on the A38 for approximately 8 miles to the Almondsbury Roundabout / M5 J16
  • Take the third exit to rejoin the M5 southbound

Three stations were closed to trains after a signal fault in south London

There was a signal fault between Shepherd’s Bush and Watford Junction, meaning trains could not stop at Wembley Central, Harrow & Wealdstone, or Watford Junction.

This affects Southern services between East Croydon and Clapham Junction to Watford Junction.

A National Rail spokesman added: ‘Some trains to Watford Junction will stop at Shepherds Bush, and some trains from Watford Junction will start from Shepherds Bush.

‘As Southern is currently unable to serve Wembley Central, Harrow & Wealdstone or Watford Junction, you will need to use alternative routes to these stations.

‘Please leave at least 30 minutes extra time to do this.’

A number of incidents have caused delays between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton all morning

There have been a number of reported incidents affecting service, including:

  • Signal cable stolen at Albrighton
  • Flooding at Wellington station
  • Trees blocking the line between Shrewsbury and Craven Arms

The issue is causing delays to these Transport for Wales services:

  • Between Holyhead / Crewe / Aberystwyth / Shrewsbury and Birmingham International
  • Between Manchester Piccadilly / Holyhead and Cardiff Central
  • Between Manchester Piccadilly and Milford Haven
  • Between Shrewsbury and Llandrindod / Swansea

There are also problems on the West Midlands Railway service between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street.

The delay is expected to last until noon.

Heavy delays on District lines

It hasn’t been a good week for London Underground commuters trying to use the District line.

Once again, the line suffered severe delays due to a point failure on High Street Kensington, affecting services between it and Edgware Road.

There were also minor delays between Earl’s Court and Wimbledon caused by a signal failure at East Putney.

The rest of the line – and the rest of the Tube network – now has a good service.

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