Underground cable fault blacks out 33 London postcodes, halting trains and plunging the City into darkness

From the Newshound archive · first published 5 October 2026 · last updated 6 October 2026.

A underground cable fault cut electricity to 33 postcodes across central and east London from around 10.30am on Monday, affecting City of London offices, homes in Hackney, Islington and Shoreditch, and disrupting rail services. UK Power Networks said repair crews were on site trying to bring supply back, with restoration targeted for between midday and 1pm, though that deadline could shift.

Great Northern trains stopped serving Essex Road after the outage darkened platform lighting, with passengers directed instead to Old Street or Highbury and Islington.

The blackout reached as far as Ilford, St John's Wood and Bayswater; some addresses had their power back, but thousands of properties remained without electricity by mid-morning.

The TelegraphLondon hit by power cut City A.M.Power cut leaves City offices in the dark easterneye.bizPower cut hits 32 London postcodes as offices, shops and trains are disrupted - easterneye.biz The MirrorMassive power cut across London with Liverpool Station and 32 postcodes hit thisislocallondon.co.ukSeveral thousands of properties have electricity after power cut across London - thisislocallondon.co.uk Daily Express on MSNLondon power cut: Electricity outage hits 32 postcodes including Liverpool Street Station El-BaladUK Power Networks Says London Power Outage Hit 32 Postcodes Evening StandardLondon blackout leaves businesses facing ‘domino effect’ of disruption

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