Trains between Luton Airport and London back to normal after delays caused by signalling failures

Information signs at London's St Pancras station showing cancelled trains. Problems with two Christmas rail engineering work projects are causing major disruption on Wednesday. Services at the southern end of the Midland Main Line between St Albans and London St Pancras are affected by a fault with the signalling system, while overrunning engineering work caused misery for many Southeastern passengers. East Midlands Railway said the signalling issue is preventing it from running services between London St Pancras and Luton Airport, meaning thousands of passengers risk missing flights. Picture date: Wednesday December 27, 2023.
Information signs at London's St Pancras station showing cancelled trains on Wednesday, 27 December, 2023 Credit: PA

Signalling problems that caused huge delays between Luton Airport and London have been fixed overnight.

Train operator East Midlands Railways apologised for the problems on Wednesday, and said the line between Wellingborough and London St Pancas has reopened.

Thameslink services to and from the airport were also affected on Wednesday, with many trains cancelled or severely delayed.

It meant thousands of airline passengers risked missing their flights.

There were multiple signalling failures after Network Rail's engineering works over Christmas to install a new system to control signals.

East Midlands Railways wrote on its website: "We are sorry if you were affected by the disruption to our services yesterday between Wellingborough and London St Pancras International.

"The signalling has been restored overnight and a normal timetable will be in operation today (Thursday)."

  • What to do if your train was affected

If you had a train ticket for Wednesday and were affected, you can use it to travel on Thursday at no extra cost, East Midlands Railway said.

If you did not travel, you can also claim a full refund. More details here.

If you were delayed by more than 15 minutes on Wednesday, you can claim compensation here.

There are engineering works affecting train travel on other parts of the region's network.

Greater Anglia's Norwich to Cambridge and Ipswich to Cambridge services are disrupted on Thursday. It's the second day of two days of engineering works there.

Its services to and from London Liverpool Street are affected until New Year's Day.

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