A fault on a train between St Albans and London St Pancras International means that some lines towards London St Pancras International are blocked. Trains running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 25 minutes or revised.
Disruption is expected until 09:00.
Customer advice
Delays are expected this morning, affecting London-bound trains from Bedford / Luton / St Albans towards London St Pancras International.
Some services may be subject to short notice alterations as a result, meaning they may have cancelled stops or will terminate and restart at a different station to normal.
You can travel using your normal route, but you'll need to allow extra time for your journey - Thameslink advise an extra 20 minutes. You may also need to change trains in order to complete your journey.
If you're waiting on a train which is delayed between stations:
If your train is delayed between stations, please remain where you are and listen to announcements,or speak to staff for further information. Thameslink will get you moving as soon as possible. Thameslink are aware of your location, and their teams will be doing everything they can to help you continue your journey.
Please don't leave the train unless you are asked to do so. Other trains may still be moving in the area, and the track is also a very hazardous environment.
Planning your journey:
Live departure boards can be found here, and you can also view a live map of the network here.
You can see the alternative route guide here.
If you're travelling in the London area, you can plan journeys on alternative routes by using the TfL Journey Planner here. You can also use the app to find up-to-date information.
Can you tell me more about the incident?
Thameslink have had a report of a fault on a train, and this is now causing delays to other services travelling through this area.
Normally, when a fault on a train occurs, crews will gather details and report this to fleet teams. If possible, the defect will be fixed promptly, and we'll get the train on the way. The initial steps are designed to take around 10 minutes.
However, sometimes the fault cannot be fixed in this time frame. In this case, wherever possible, the train will be taken out of use and sent to a depot. This does take additional time, as the crew will need to make sure that everyone's managed to leave the train.
If this can't be done either, Thameslink will send their specialist engineers to site, known as "fitters". They have fitters based in key locations around the network, 24 hours a day, and they are able to attend anywhere on their routes. Once they are on site, Thameslink will then monitor progress updates and ensure that the railway can be reopened as promptly as possible.
Until the defective train can be moved, we will try to find a way to get other trains around the issue. This depends how many lines are available, and whether the signalling equipment is set up to allow trains to be routed around the problem. This is more often the case on our major routes, but not always. We'll work with Network Rail's controllers to decide how many more trains can be sent through the area, and if this isn't possible, we'll see what alternative solutions are available to help you continue your journey.
Check before you travel:
You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.
Compensation:
You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.