Finsbury Park becomes one of London’s largest transport hubs as engineering works at King’s Cross continue to overrun

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Finsbury Park station was shut by Network Rail due to "dangerous overcrowding" this afternoon as London was hit by a second day of rail chaos as engineering works around mainline stations continued to overrun.

The station was transformed into London's main hub running services to the North after trains after King's Cross services were cancelled due to delays and cancellations.

As queues and crowds clogged up platforms and corridors, trains backed up outside Finsbury Park, unable to let passengers off because of overcrowding. 

King's Cross wasn't the only station causing passengers misery: Network Rail said although Paddington services, suspended throughout the morning and early afternoon due to overrunning engineering works, were beginning to run, they will be hit by disruptions for "most of the day".

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The disruption follows a day of misery for passengers as thousands attempted to take advantage of Boxing Day sales.

All services on the East Coast, West Coast and Great Western mainlines were cancelled. Midland, Cross Country and East Anglia were also hit by cancellations.

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On the trains

  • KING'S CROSS 

    Severe disruption expected until end of service due to overrunning engineering works.

    East Coast – Because trains are unable to run between King's Cross and Finsbury Park, trains to Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland are running from Finsbury Park every half hour, while a train shuttle service is also operating between Peterborough and Leeds.

    First Hull Trains – Running an amended service, with trains terminating and starting from either Peterborough or Finsbury Park.

    Grand Central – Running an amended service, with trains terminating and starting from either Peterborough or Finsbury Park.

    Great Northern– Services from Peterborough will terminate at Welwyn Garden City. Passengers can also use Abellio Greater Anglia and London Underground.
     

  • EUSTON

    Major engineering works affecting routes to and from Euston and between Milton Keynes and Clapham Junction. 

    CrossCountry – Services between Bournemouth and Manchester Piccadilly will divert and not call at Wolverhampton or Stafford. Replacement buses will run between Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent

    London Midland – Services between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street will only run between Crewe and Lime Street. Trains between Northampton and Crewe won't call at Stafford or Stone. Replacement buses will run between Wolverhampton and Crewe and between Stafford/Rugeley Trent Valley and Stoke-on-Trent.

    Virgin Trains – Services which usually run between Milton Keynes and Crewe will be diverted via Stoke-on-Trent. Replacement buses will run between Wolverhampton and Crewe via Stafford.
     

  • PADDINGTON 

    Over-running engineering works between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington are causing delays of up to 60 minutes on First Great Western, Heathrow Connect and Heathrow Express trains. 
     

  • LONDON BRIDGE 

    Because of major (planned) engineering works, Southern and Thameslink services are not calling at London Bridge.

On the tube

  • CIRCLE LINE

    Because of track and drainage replacement work in Earl's Court and station improvement at Victoria, there's no service between Edgeware Road and Aldgate (via Victoria).
     

  • DISTRICT LINE

    No service between Embankment/Edgeware Road and Wimbledon/Richmond/Ealing Common/Kensington Olympia to allow for track and drainage replacement work and station improvement work at Victoria.

    Piccadilly line trains towards Heathrow and Uxbridge are calling at Ravenscourt Park, Stamford Brook, Turnham Green and Chiswick Park.

    Trains starting and terminating at Northfields are also stopping at Turnham Green.

    A shuttle train service is also operating between Ealing Common and Ealing Broadway.

    Replacement buses include:
    Service A – Wimbledon – Hammersmith
    Service B – Wimbledon – Earl's Court
    Service C – Richmond – Turnham Green
     

  • JUBILEE LINE 

    No service between Finchley Road and Waterloo, to carry out essential tunnelling work.

    Replacement buses are running from Finchley Road – Baker Street
     

  • LONDON OVERGROUND

    No service between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction / West Croydon / Crystal Palace because of Network Rail Thameslink and station works. 

    No service between Gospel Oak and Barking due to bridge works.

    Replacement buses include: 
    Service M – Canada Water – Clapham Junction
    Service N – Canada Water – West Croydon
    On the Gospel Oak Line – Gospel Oak Station – Barking