Train services to and from Heathrow Airport experienced significant disruption on Sunday, January 11, 2026, due to a fire near the railway line. A blaze at a recycling center on Johnson Street in Southall, involving approximately 15 tonnes of mixed recycling, led to the partial closure of the Great Western Main Line as a precautionary measure.
This incident caused widespread delays and cancellations for passengers traveling to and from the UK's busiest airport. Great Western Railway warned that services between Reading and London Paddington might be affected, with disruption expected until at least 8 pm. The Heathrow Express service was completely suspended, and the Elizabeth Line reported no service between Paddington and Reading or Heathrow due to a fire alert. Transport for London advised London Underground services to accept tickets via any reasonable route.
Thousands of passengers heading to or from Heathrow were impacted, and travelers were urged to check their journey status and allow extra time. The London Fire Brigade deployed eight fire engines and about 60 firefighters to the scene, with the cause of the fire not yet determined. By 8:37 pm, Network Rail announced that all lines had reopened, and train services had resumed.