London, UK (WNEWS BREAKING) – A significant power outage struck London on Monday afternoon, May 12, 2025, causing widespread disruption across the city’s transport network and affecting thousands of commuters and businesses.
Power Outage Causes Major Disruptions Across London
At approximately 2:30 PM local time, a fault on National Grid’s transmission network in central London led to a sudden voltage dip, impacting the low-voltage distribution network. Although the main supply was restored within seconds, the brief outage had cascading effects on the city’s infrastructure.
Transport for London (TfL) reported that several Underground lines were suspended, including the Bakerloo, Waterloo & City, Suffragette, and Weaver lines. The Elizabeth and Jubilee lines faced severe delays and partial suspensions. Stations such as Marble Arch, Covent Garden, and South Kensington were temporarily closed, and passengers were advised to seek alternative transport options.
The sudden power loss also affected signaling systems, requiring manual resets and safety checks before services could resume. Hundreds of businesses, particularly those south of Oxford Street, experienced power outages, with some areas expected to remain without electricity until after 6 PM.
Commuters and Businesses Face Challenges
The timing of the outage, occurring just before the evening rush hour, exacerbated the impact on commuters. Many passengers were left stranded, with some trapped in tunnels until power was restored. TfL staff worked diligently to manage the situation, guiding passengers and providing updates.
Businesses in the affected areas reported significant disruptions, with some unable to operate due to the lack of power. The outage has raised concerns about the resilience of London’s power infrastructure and the potential for similar incidents in the future.
Authorities Respond and Investigate
National Grid issued an apology for the inconvenience caused by the fault on their transmission network. They confirmed that the issue was resolved promptly and emphasized their commitment to investigating the root cause to prevent future occurrences.
Transport for London continues to work closely with National Grid to restore full service across the network. Passengers are advised to check TfL’s official channels for the latest updates on service status.
Second Major Outage in recent months to hit London’s Area
Today’s power outage is not the only one to hit the city in the past several weeks. On March 21, London Heathrow Airport experienced a significant power outage due to a fire at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes. The blaze disrupted electricity supply not only to the airport but also to approximately 67,000 homes and businesses in the vicinity. Despite the activation of backup generators to maintain critical safety systems, the airport’s operations were severely impacted, leading to the cancellation and diversion of over 1,300 flights and affecting nearly 300,000 passengers.
Power was restored to Heathrow’s terminals by 10:56 a.m. on the same day; however, flight operations did not resume until after 6:00 p.m., following comprehensive safety checks. The delay in resuming services drew criticism from airlines and passengers alike, highlighting concerns over the airport’s preparedness for such incidents . British Airways reported a financial impact of £40 million due to the disruption, citing a lack of compensation avenues from either Heathrow or its insurers .
An interim report by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) stated that the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, though foul play has been ruled out. The incident has prompted calls for a thorough review of the UK’s energy infrastructure resilience, with a final report expected by the end of June .
