Chiltern Main Line @NetworkRailCML ??Due to major flooding the train line between Banbury and Bicester is closed ?? Please check @nationalrailenq before you travel Thank you for your patience whilst our teams work hard to deal with the flooding
Chiltern Railway is underwater this morning (Picture: Network Rail)

Commuters are waking up to more travel misery this morning as further rain and flooding has blocked railway lines and a major motorway.

The M5 near Bristol is blocked in both directions due to flooding this morning, with cars trapped 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 is closed for the fifth day in a row due to the flash flooding on Sunday night.

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

And high winds mean trains between Newcastle and Edinburgh have to run at a reduced speed, affecting all CrossCountry, LNER, Lumo and TransPennine Express services.


  • 30s ago


    Are you affected by the weather?


    • Are you affected by the weather?

    The roads and railways are feeling the brunt of the rainy weather and flooding which has been going on for most of the week.

    Has your journey been affected?

    We want to hear from you, so get in touch with webnews@metro.co.uk to share what’s happened.

    Car and two vans crash on the M25


    M25 anti-clockwise between J29 and J28
    The M25 in Essex near Brentwood has 45-minute delays after a crash (Picture: Highways England)

    A multi-vehicle crash is causing 45-minute delays on the M25 in Essex.

    The smash happened anticlockwise between J29 Upminster and J28 Brentwood shortly before 7am.

    An Inrix traffic alert shows two lanes out of four have been closed after a car and two vans crashed.

    Drivers face around five miles of congestion and stationary or slow-moving traffic in the area.

    While the cause of the crash is not known, motorists should expect wet conditions on motorways and roads today after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain.

    Spray and flooding can create difficult driving conditions and road closures, the forecaster said.

    Flash flooding can also block roads.

    Pictures show flooding at Wellington Station

    This flooding is one of several issues affecting trains between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton this morning – scroll down for more details.

    Official diversion route for M5 flooding

    Northbound traffic should follow solid triangle symbol:

    • Exit the M5 at J16 onto the A38
    • Follow to re-join the M5 at J14

    Southbound traffic should 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 Almondsbury Roundabout/M5 J16
    • Take the third exit to rejoin the M5 southbound

    Three stations closed to trains after signal fault in south London

    There’s a signal fault between Shepherd’s Bush and Watford Junction, which means trains can’t stop at Wembley Central, Harrow & Wealdstone, or Watford Junction.

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

    A National Rail spokesperson added: ‘Some trains towards Watford Junction will terminate at Shepherds Bush, and some trains from Watford Junction will start from Shepherds Bush.

    ‘As Southern are unable to serve Wembley Central, Harrow & Wealdstone or Watford Junction at present, you’ll need to use an alternative route for these stations.

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

    Multiple incidents causing delays between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton all morning

    There have been several incidents reported which are affecting services, including:

    • Signalling cables being stolen at Albrighton
    • Flooding at Wellington station
    • A tree blocking the line between Shrewsbury and Craven Arms

    The problems are causing delays on 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 issues on West Midlands Railway services between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street.

    These delays are expected to last until midday.

    Severe delays on the District line

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

    Once again the line is facing severe delays because of a points failure at High Street Kensington, which is impacting services between there and Edgware Road.

    There are 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 – currently has good service.


    MORE : 10 London deals you don’t want to miss from savings on bottomless booze brunch and Alpine curling


    MORE : Return of iconic London nightclub takes a step closer


    MORE : Here’s where there are heavy rain warnings in place tonight