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Trackside grass fire disrupts London rail links to Heathrow and Reading

Emergency crews responded to a blaze that blocked rail routes from London Paddington through Saturday evening.

Updated Sep 5, 2026 · 20:20 UTC2 reports

Latest update: Disruption across rail routes to Heathrow and Reading was extended through Saturday night as around 40 firefighters battled a trackside grass fire.

The short version

  • A trackside grass fire near Scrubs Lane halted rail traffic between London Paddington, Heathrow Airport, and Reading.[The Guardian · BBC News]
  • Services on Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, and the Elizabeth line faced widespread cancellations and delays.[The Guardian · BBC News]
  • Around 40 firefighters and six fire engines were dispatched to contain the blaze.[BBC News]
  • National Rail cautioned that major travel disruptions were anticipated to persist through the end of Saturday.[BBC News]

Key facts

  • A trackside grass fire near London Paddington halted trains and blocked lines heading to Heathrow Airport and Reading.[The Guardian · BBC News]
  • National Rail warned that major service disruptions were expected to last through the end of Saturday.[BBC News]
  • The London Fire Brigade assigned six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters to fight the blaze near Scrubs Lane in North Kensington.[BBC News]
  • Great Western Railway cancelled services to Reading, and no Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express trains operated between Paddington and Heathrow on Saturday evening.[BBC News]
  • Heathrow Airport's southern runway was temporarily shut earlier on Saturday while emergency crews handled a separate grass fire on the airfield.[BBC News]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact timeline for full service restoration beyond the initial warning of disruptions lasting through the end of Saturday remains unconfirmed.[BBC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.