Quick Read
- Thameslink and East Midlands Railway services are disrupted between London St Pancras and Luton Airport Parkway.
- The disruption is caused by damaged overhead electrical wires at Elstree and Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
- Cancellations and delays of up to 30-45 minutes are expected until the end of the day, February 11, 2026.
- Fewer lines are open between West Hampstead Thameslink and St Albans City, leading to busier trains.
- This incident follows multiple recent disruptions for Thameslink, including a train derailment last week.
LONDON (Azat TV) – Thameslink and East Midlands Railway (EMR) services are experiencing significant disruption between London St Pancras International and Luton Airport Parkway today, February 11, 2026, following damage to overhead electrical wires. The incident, which occurred at Elstree and Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, has led to widespread cancellations and delays of up to 30 to 45 minutes, marking another challenge for a network that has seen ongoing efforts to improve rail connections.
The damage, reported near the Elstree Tunnels area, has forced Network Rail engineers to the site for investigation. As a direct consequence, fewer lines than normal are operational between West Hampstead Thameslink and St Albans City, requiring trains to take turns passing through the affected section. This bottleneck is causing services to be significantly busier than usual, according to Thameslink officials.
Major Delays Affecting Key Routes
The disruption is impacting critical routes, including services connecting London St Pancras International with Nottingham, Sheffield, and Corby, in addition to the heavily used London St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway line. Passengers planning to travel on these routes are advised to check for the latest information before commencing their journeys.
Thameslink has confirmed that the disruption is expected to persist until the end of the day. For those affected, alternative travel arrangements are being facilitated. Tickets are being accepted on East Midlands Railway services, which are also considering stopping Intercity services at Luton Airport Parkway, Bedford, and Wellingborough to assist passengers. Additionally, East Midlands Railway will operate a shuttle service between Kettering and Corby in both directions, allowing passengers to change at Kettering for southbound connections. Full details on alternative routes are available on the Thameslink website.
Ongoing Challenges for the Thameslink Network
This latest incident underscores persistent operational challenges for the Thameslink network, which has been the focus of a major project aimed at improving rail connections and modernizing its fleet since new carriages were introduced in 2009. The service has faced multiple disruptions in recent weeks, including a train derailment just last week, as reported by MyLondon.news.
Network Rail is actively investigating the cause of the overhead wire damage. The repeated disruptions highlight the complexities of maintaining a reliable and efficient rail infrastructure amidst continuous upgrades and the high demands of serving a bustling metropolitan area and its surrounding regions. While the Thameslink Project has aimed to enhance capacity and passenger experience, incidents like today’s wire damage and previous technical failures demonstrate the ongoing need for robust maintenance and swift response protocols to ensure consistent service delivery.
The recurring nature of these service interruptions, despite significant investment and ongoing modernization efforts within the broader Thameslink Project, suggests a systemic challenge in ensuring the resilience of critical rail infrastructure against both operational failures and unforeseen incidents.