Dozens of firefighters tackled a substantial grass fire close to the railway near Waltham Cross on Sunday, an incident that suspended all services to London Liverpool Street for several hours and left motorists under a pall of smoke on the M25.
Immediate disruption to trains and traffic
Greater Anglia said the London Fire Brigade requested that train movements in the area be stopped as a safety precaution after multiple fires were spotted close to the line. As a result, services to Liverpool Street were halted and many trains were diverted via Seven Sisters. By about 21:00 the lines had reopened, but travellers were warned to expect delays until around 23:00.
Motorists were urged to avoid the stretch of the M25 between Junction 25 (Enfield) and Junction 26 (Waltham Abbey) while the emergency response continued. Officers received in excess of 50 calls after thick clouds of smoke appeared around the motorway from about 14:00.
Services and routes affected
Rail operators warned of significant knock-on disruption across the network. Routes specifically named as affected included services to and from:
- Stansted Airport
- Cambridge North
- Meridian Water (Hertfordshire)
- Hertford East
| Issue | Impact |
|---|---|
| Lines suspended | Services to London Liverpool Street halted; diversion via Seven Sisters |
| Motorway smoke | M25 J25–J26 motorists warned to avoid area |
Stansted Express advised passengers that disruption was expected until further notice and confirmed trains running through the affected area could be delayed or diverted. Greater Anglia explained affected ticket holders could use their tickets on alternative transport including the London Underground, Great Northern, Thameslink, London Buses and London Overground routes.
"The fire in Waltham Abbey is now under control. Crews will remain on scene this evening, extinguishing the remaining hotspots."
Extent of the blaze and the recovery response
The London Fire Brigade reported that at the fire’s height approximately 14 hectares of grass were alight. Crews remained on scene to extinguish hotspots after bringing the main fire under control. Network Rail and the emergency response teams were on site working to restore normal train operations as quickly as possible.
Local residents and commuters were urged to check travel updates with their train operator before setting out, and to follow any diversion or safety advice from emergency services. Where services were diverted and delays expected, rail companies sought to keep passengers informed and offered alternative ticket usage to reduce immediate inconvenience.
This incident underlines how fires close to transport corridors can produce wide-ranging disruption — affecting not only rail timetables but also major road arteries such as the M25 that many Hertfordshire drivers rely on for journeys into London and around the county.
