Key Points
- A fire at a recycling centre in Southall involving 15 tonnes of mixed recycling caused severe delays on trains to and from Heathrow Airport on Sunday evening.
- The London Fire Brigade deployed eight fire engines and 60 firefighters, bringing the blaze under control by around 8:30pm.
- Great Western Main Line was partially closed due to smoke, affecting Elizabeth Line, Great Western Railway, and Heathrow Express services between Paddington, Reading, and Heathrow Terminals.
- Disruption lasted several hours, with services resuming but facing delays up to 25 minutes; full recovery expected by 11pm.
- No injuries reported, and the cause of the fire remains unknown amid a spate of similar incidents at UK recycling facilities.
London (West London News) January 11, 2026 – Severe train disruptions hit travellers heading to Heathrow Airport after a major fire broke out at a recycling centre in ealing/southall/">Southall, west London, on Sunday afternoon.
Transport for London reported no service on the Elizabeth Line between Paddington and Heathrow Terminals or Reading due to the incident. Great Western Railway services were also impacted, with cancellations and delays as the fire near the tracks prompted partial line closures.
What Caused the Train Disruptions to Heathrow?
The fire erupted at a recycling facility on Johnson Street in Southall, where around 15 tonnes of mixed recycling materials ignited. According to the London Fire Brigade, crews were called at 5:33pm and mobilised eight fire engines with approximately 60 firefighters from stations including Southall, Hayes, and Feltham.
Heavy smoke from the blaze drifted towards the nearby Great Western Main Line, necessitating a partial closure as a safety precaution while firefighters tackled the flames. Sky News reported that the incident led to severe delays on trains to and from Heathrow, with Great Western Railway noting fewer trains could operate between Reading and London Paddington.
As reported by London Fire Brigade spokespersons, the fire was under control by 8:30pm to 8:35pm, allowing rail lines to reopen progressively. National Rail confirmed the lines had reopened but warned of major disruption until the end of service.
How Did the Fire Affect Rail Services?
Services on the Elizabeth Line faced the heaviest impact, with no trains running between Paddington, Reading, and Heathrow Terminals initially. Transport for London later updated this to severe delays extending to Abbey Wood, while advising passengers that London Underground tickets were valid via any reasonable route.
Heathrow Express services were fully suspended due to the external incident, as stated by a spokesperson, with operations resuming around 9pm but still experiencing up to 15-minute delays. Great Western Railway added that trains to and from affected stations could be cancelled, delayed, or revised, with disruption expected until 11pm.
Which Routes Were Most Disrupted?
National Rail specified delays of up to 25 minutes, cancellations, or revisions between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals or Reading. Some Elizabeth Line stations between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington were not served, and passengers were directed to use Great Western Railway or South Western Railway services at no extra cost.
By 8:26pm, Great Western Railway confirmed the fire was under control and all lines were operational, though short-notice changes persisted. Circular Online noted the partial closure was directly linked to smoke from the Southall site, causing widespread travel chaos for airport-bound passengers.
What Is the Latest on the Fire Investigation?
The London Fire Brigade has not yet determined the cause of the Southall fire, which involved a significant volume of mixed recycling. Lets Recycle reported that crews had the blaze fully under control by 8:35pm, with no mention of injuries or further risks to nearby areas.
This incident forms part of a broader pattern, with Lets Recycle highlighting a spate of fires at UK and Irish recycling facilities in recent months. Examples include a blaze at EMR’s Cross Green site in Leeds on January 6, 2025, attended by eight engines. The Environmental Services Association has described such events as reaching epidemic levels, often linked to improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries in mixed waste.
Lithium-ion cells can ignite when damaged, leading to thermal runaway and rapid fire spread, as explained in industry reporting. However, no specific link to batteries has been confirmed for the Southall fire.
Passengers affected by the delays may claim compensation by retaining tickets and journey details, as advised by National Rail. Rail operators urged travellers to check real-time updates via journey planners and station announcements ahead of Monday morning commutes.
With Heathrow remaining a key international gateway, Sunday’s disruption underscored vulnerabilities in rail links near industrial sites, though services returned to near-normal by late evening.
