Travel chaos hit London commuters and travelers on June 26, 2025, after a signaling fault at Hackney Downs station triggered severe delays—up to one hour—on all services between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. Rail operators have urged passengers to check for service updates, plan for longer journeys, and allow extra time when travelling to and from the airport.
What Happened and Where
The problem, first reported early on June 26, involved signaling equipment between Cheshunt/Chingford, Stratford, and Liverpool Street. Stansted Express and Greater Anglia services were the most affected, with trains forced to slow down significantly, disrupting schedules and causing cascading delays across the network
A Greater Anglia update on social media confirmed the details:
“We are currently experiencing disruption to train services operating via Hackney Downs due to a fault with the signaling system.”
Passenger Experience: Delays, Overcrowding, and Missed Flights
Many commuters and airport-bound passengers were hit hard, facing delays of 45 to 60 minutes during peak hours. Specific journey times were impacted as follows:
- 11:10 Liverpool Street → Stansted Airport now arriving at 11:57
- 11:45 Stansted Airport → Liverpool Street departing at 12:31
- 12:55 Liverpool Street → Stansted Airport arriving around 13:44
- 14:00 return service now leaving at 14:48
- 15:10 Liverpool Street → Stansted Airport delayed until 16:00
These delays created knock-on effects such as overcrowded trains—as travellers tried to board earlier services to make connections—and the risk of missed flights or missed appointments.
Rail Industry Response and Travel Advice
Greater Anglia and Stansted Express urged passengers to monitor live travel updates, check with airlines for possible flight schedule changes, and allow significant extra time for journeys.
The signalling issue remained unresolved for several hours, with repair teams working to restore normal speeds and reinstate full services. Operators warned that ongoing disruption could also ripple across the wider rail network, affecting connecting services.
Alternatives: Other Travel Options to Stansted Airport
Travellers advised staying flexible:
- Bus services from Liverpool Street, Stratford, or Hackney may offer alternatives, though subject to road traffic delays.
- Taxi or ride‑share options remain available but often come at higher cost, especially during peak travel hours.
Commuters needing to reach Stansted Airport for international flights were urged to plan accordingly or consider departing earlier to account for possible savings.
Rail Infrastructure and Passenger Impact
Stansted Airport is heavily reliant on its rail link, with thousands using the Stansted Express daily. The disruption highlights how military-scale resilience is needed in critical signalling infrastructure, particularly in high-traffic corridors.
This incident reflects growing pressure on rail systems to maintain real-time signalling reliability while weathering ageing infrastructure and global passenger growth trends.
Full Restoration Expected Later Today
By 13:09 GMT on June 26, National Rail confirmed that the disruption had been cleared. Passengers using the following routes—Cheshunt/Chingford to Stratford/Liverpool Street—should now see returning services to normal operation, including the Stansted Express.
Despite the restoration, residual delays are expected due to service recovery and rolling time lag in restoring full timetable frequency.
Future-Proofing: What Rail Operators Could Learn
While immediate repairs restore services, operators must explore:
- Infrastructure upgrades at signal locations to prevent failures.
- Alternative routing capabilities for emergency rerouting during incidents.
- Passenger communication improvements, including better alternative transport advice when delays occur.
Public consultations and passenger feedback may help improve contingency planning and resilience.
Final Takeaway for Travellers
For commuters or travellers heading to Stansted Airport, here’s what you should do:
- Check real‑time updates via Greater Anglia, Stansted Express, or National Rail apps.
- Allow at least one extra hour on affected journeys to hedge against travel uncertainty.
- Inform your airline if you suspect you’ll miss a flight due to train delays.
- Consider alternative options, like buses or taxis, especially if on a tight schedule.
The Hackney Downs signaling fault serves as a crucial reminder: always plan for disruptions when travelling by train to busy airports like Stansted.
