London railway tunnel to Heathrow closed over safety fears

| Senior Live News reporter Published August 10, 2026 9:32am Updated August 10, 2026 9:34am A leak in the railway tunnel is wreaking havoc on trains between London and Heathrow (Picture: In Pictures via Getty Images) A railway tunnel near Heathrow Airport has closed, sparking travel disruption on the major route set to last all day. The new week is off to a difficult start in west London after a rail tunnel was forced to close this morning, wreaking havoc on the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express. The tunnel closed for ‘safety reasons’ between Hayes and Harlington and Heathrow Terminals, affecting rush hour services from Paddington. National Rail said: ‘A tunnel has been closed for safety reasons between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Terminal 4 / Heathrow Terminal 5. As a result, some lines between these stations are closed.’ The issue is caused by a water leak in the tunnel, with only one railway line available. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. People joked about the disruption online after it was described as having been caused by flooding. One person wrote: ‘Severe delays due to flooding when I can’t remember the last time it rained takes some doing, sensational work Elizabeth line.’ What services are running to Heathrow Airport? No Elizabeth line trains are currently running between Hayes and Harlington and Heathrow Airport, while Heathrow Express only has reduced services. Two Heathrow Express trains per hour will connect Paddington and Heathrow Terminal T5 until the issue is resolved. The disruption is expected to last until the end of the day. Passengers trying to reach the airport can use their tickets on other services which are still running. National Rail advises travellers to use Great Western Railway trains, London Underground Piccadilly line, or bus routes 105, 278, 350 or 482 to complete their journeys. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Two European airports to close affecting easyJet and Ryanair flights from UK Arrow MORE: Shocking moment drunk BA passenger fights cabin crew before being arrested at Heathrow Arrow MORE: Passengers demand ‘let us out’ after Bristol airport suspends all flights News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.