Points failure cancels trains between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt on 4 August

Passengers travelling between London and Hertfordshire faced cancellations on 4 August after a points failure disrupted services on the Great Eastern Main Line. The fault occurred near London Liverpool Street station, affecting Greater Anglia trains to Cheshunt and Hertford East.

Network Rail confirmed the issue in a statement to the Romford Recorder. Engineers were dispatched to repair the signalling equipment, which controls train movements at junctions. Services resumed later in the day, though some delays persisted into the evening.

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Impact on Barnet and Enfield residents

The disruption affected commuters from Barnet borough, particularly those using stations such as Enfield Lock and Brimsdown. These stops serve residents travelling to central London for work or education. Greater Anglia operates the line under a franchise agreement with Transport for London.

A spokesperson for Greater Anglia told the Romford Recorder that passengers should check the operator’s website or app for real-time updates. The company advised those with flexible tickets to consider alternative routes, including London Overground services where available.

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No injuries or safety incidents were reported in connection with the fault. Network Rail has not disclosed the exact location of the points failure, though signalling problems on this section of track have occurred previously.

What happens next

Greater Anglia has not announced compensation for affected passengers. Travellers with advance tickets may be entitled to refunds if their train was cancelled. Those holding season tickets could claim for the portion of their journey disrupted, though the process requires retaining original tickets.

Network Rail said it would investigate the cause of the failure. A spokesperson told the Romford Recorder that the company routinely reviews signalling faults to prevent recurrence. No date has been set for the publication of findings.

Passengers planning journeys on the line are advised to monitor Greater Anglia’s service updates. The operator has not indicated whether additional engineering works are scheduled that could cause further disruption.