Major failure Nationnal Grid UK down

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9691385/power-cut-uk-trains-tubes-power-lights-outage/
BLACK FRIDAY Power cut plunges Britain into chaos as thousands stranded on trains in pitch dark for six hours and desperate passengers ‘pee from windows’
Molly Rose PikeFelix Allen
9 Aug 2019, 17:36Updated: 10 Aug 2019, 7:44
THOUSANDS of desperate passengers were stranded on trains for more than six hours in the dark last night as a UK-wide power cut wreaked havoc on trains, Tubes and roads.

A million people across the UK were plunged into darkness after two National Grid generators spectacularly failed, with large parts of London, the South East, Liverpool, Glasgow, Wales, Gloucestershire and Manchester all without power.

 Train workers rescue passengers from a stranded train after six hours near Hatfield, Herts
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Train workers rescue passengers from a stranded train after six hours near Hatfield, HertsCredit: Steve Shaw
 Passengers were forced to walk on the tracks after their train from Moorgate was evacuated
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Passengers were forced to walk on the tracks after their train from Moorgate was evacuatedCredit: @SpartanStathi
 London Underground passengers walk through a tunnel in the dark after a power failure crippled the UK
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London Underground passengers walk through a tunnel in the dark after a power failure crippled the UK
Commuters described "apocalyptic" scenes when power failed around 5pm - even knocking out traffic lights in some areas.

Trains were stuck on Thameslink and the East Coast main line, with delays and cancellations continuing all evening.

Witnesses described "pandemonium" as cops were called to break up fights and passengers were forced to pee out of windows.

Christopher Lovell tweeted: "Been sat on a train outside Hatfield for 4.5 hours now.

"People have been p*****g out of the drivers door as there are no toilets.

"Completely unacceptable, multiple opportunities to evacuate the train while it was still daylight."

Vicki Hamilton said: "Over 4 hours later and still stuck on this @TLRailUK train with no water, no food and no power!"

Our video shows passengers being rescued after six hours stuck between Hatfield and Welham Green, Herts - as the driver says they are finally getting off this "nightmare train".

One traveller on board told The Sun Online: "It was pitch black, toilets were overflowing, people were shouting and children crying.

"It was pandemonium. After about five hours the police came to break up fights.

"People were smoking in the toilets and then squaring up to other people who objected.

"Passengers were on the point of revolt."

He said a diesel train was eventually brought alongside and workers helped them across the track.

After seven hours they reached Hatfield station and were put on buses to London.

He added: "A policeman told me they'd evacuated ten trains, and there were 50 trains stuck because of the power cut."

Other pictures show passengers walking on tracks in North London and in a London Underground tunnel.

Play Video
Major power failures across large parts of the UK hit trains, airports and traffic lights
 

 Police boarded a stranded train 'to break up fights' on the East Coast main line, witnesses said
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Police boarded a stranded train 'to break up fights' on the East Coast main line, witnesses saidCredit: Steve Shaw
 Passengers were taken off the train after a six-hour 'nightmare'
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Passengers were taken off the train after a six-hour 'nightmare'Credit: Steve Shaw
 They were given water after finally reaching Hatfield on a second train
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They were given water after finally reaching Hatfield on a second trainCredit: Steve Shaw
Meanwhile at King's Cross 1,000 people were shut outside and others slept on the floor inside as train companies told ticket holders: "Do not attempt to travel."

Euston Station was also evacuated and people were stuck underground on the Victoria Line at the height of rush-hour.

Harriet Jackson said: "All the traffic lights were down, but there were no police present, which meant it was dangerous to cross - cars weren't stopping either.

"It was like witnessing something out of an apocalyptic film.

"No one knew what was going on and, given it's a Friday afternoon, it's the last thing you want to encounter."

Newcastle Airport also suffered a blackout. Scott McKenzie, 31, from Cardiff, said: "We were literally plunged into darkness and people were using their phones as torches to see and get around."

It was the first major outage since 500,000 lost power in London in 2003.

Western Power Distrubiton, which serves the Midlands, South West and Wales, said 500,000 people were affected.

More than 100,000 homes in Devon were left without power, and around 300,000 UK Power Networks customers were affected in London and the South East.

Northern Powergrid, which serves Yorkshire and the North East, said 110,000 customers lost power while Electricity North West said a further 26,000 customers were affected.

Later the National Grid said power had been "restored" after two generators failed, but energy watchdog Ofgem has called for an "urgent detailed report" so it can investigate.

A spokesman said: "Ofgem has asked for an urgent detailed report from National Grid so we can understand what went wrong and decide what further steps need to be taken. This could include enforcement action."

 Commuters stuck outside Green Park station in London
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Commuters stuck outside Green Park station in LondonCredit: @immayo1
 Passengers stuck in the dark on the Victoria Line
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Passengers stuck in the dark on the Victoria LineCredit: @AislingJane_
 Passengers lying on the ground in the middle of King's Cross
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Passengers lying on the ground in the middle of King's CrossCredit: PA:Press Association
 Hundreds were refused entry into King's Cross station as trains were halted
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Hundreds were refused entry into King's Cross station as trains were haltedCredit: PA:Press Association
 Shoppers filmed in the dark at Waitrose in Buckhurst Hill, Essex
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Shoppers filmed in the dark at Waitrose in Buckhurst Hill, Essex
 Emergency lights guide commuters who were plunged into darkness at rush hour at Clapham Junction
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Emergency lights guide commuters who were plunged into darkness at rush hour at Clapham JunctionCredit: PA:Press Association
 Huge crowds in the blackout at Clapham
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Huge crowds in the blackout at ClaphamCredit: @JoeWelstead
 Traffic lights went down in Northcote Road near Clapham Junction
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Traffic lights went down in Northcote Road near Clapham JunctionCredit: PA:Press Association
 A motorist gets out of his car to direct traffic after a power cut paralysed the lights failing on the A167 in Low Fell, Gateshead
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A motorist gets out of his car to direct traffic after a power cut paralysed the lights failing on the A167 in Low Fell, GatesheadCredit: North News and Pictures
 Electricity supplies were knocked out across large swathes of Cornwall, like in this restaurant
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Electricity supplies were knocked out across large swathes of Cornwall, like in this restaurantCredit: Splash News
Tube passengers in London reportedly collapsed due to heat exhaustion after a Victoria Line train was stuck between Oxford Circus and Green Park for 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, cops were filmed boarding a train stranded at Potters Bar station in North London after the power went out to help with crowd control.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: "We currently have BTP officers assisting at several stations owing to current disruption caused by power issues."

Network Rail said power outages sent their signals down, resulting in cancellations and delays in the Newport, Gloucester, Ashford, Bristol, Eastbourne, Hastings, Three Bridges and Exeter areas.

Rail operator Thameslink said many of its trains were "at a stand".

Commuters in Liverpool and Stockport in Cheshire also complained of power outages.

Meanwhile, passengers reported being "thrown off" an escalator after it suddenly stopped in Bradford, West Yorks.

As homes across London were plunged into darkness - sending mobile phones and the internet down - locals wrote: "It's scary as hell".

The drop in power also affected traffic lights in the capital, Transport for London confirmed.

It said: "Due to a large scale National Grid failure there is a power cut in the London and South East areas, meaning that some traffic lights are down.

"Please be very cautious on the roads!"

Last night there were reports the outage was caused by a failure of one gas power station and a major wind farm at the same time.

National Grid confirmed at around 6.40pm that the issue had been "resolved" - but the knock-on disruption lasted hours.

UK Power Networks said: "We're aware of a power cut affecting large parts of London and South East.

"We believe this is due to a failure on National Grid's network, which is affecting our customers."

The outage came as the country is lashed by heavy rain and thunderstorms - with severe weather warnings in place for almost all of the UK.
National Rail Enquiries said: "Power supply problems are currently causing disruption to a large number of train services. Information screens in some areas are also affected."

It added: "The UK power network has failed in the large parts of London and the South East. This has prevented trains across the Great Northern network and between Farringdon and Bedford from being able to take power and as a result, most trains are currently at a stand."

It's the second day of travel chaos for commuters in London as thousands were left stranded in Euston and Marylebone because of signal failures.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/09/major-power-cut-across-country-london-goes-dark-national-grid/
Major power cut across country as London goes dark after National Grid failure
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 London experienced rush-hour chaos today when the power died across the country
London experienced rush-hour chaos today when the power died across the country
 Jessica Carpani  Alex Shipman  Katie O'Neill  Lizzie Roberts  Jack Torrance 
9 AUGUST 2019 • 7:36PM
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Britain was hit by an unprecedented power outage, with ­hospitals, airports, rail and road ­networks – as well as towns and cities across England and Wales – left ­without electricity.

The “unexpected and unusual” blackout was caused by two generators shutting, triggering a failure on the ­National Grid network, with power cuts in London and the South East, the Midlands, the South West, Yorkshire, the North East, Cornwall and Wales.

Around a million people were ­affected when power was lost shortly before 5pm. It was about two hours ­before the National Grid Electricity System Operator said the issue had been resolved.

National Grid said the events were “outside of our control”.

Power was lost at Ipswich Hospital for 30 minutes when its backup ­generator failed to start.

 People waiting inside King's Cross station, London, as all services in and out of the station have been suspended, after a large power cut
People waiting inside King's Cross station, London, as all services in and out of the station have been suspended, after a large power cut CREDIT: PA
People at the ­hospital said that parts of it were left in “complete darkness”, with sirens going off when the power cut hit.

A hospital spokeswoman said it was “too early” to say whether there was a fault, but assured staff “helped keep patients safe” during the power ­outage.

Rail commuters experienced ­disruption and delays, while motorists found some traffic lights out of action. 

Around 300,000 homes and ­businesses were affected in London and the South East, a UK Power ­Networks spokesman said.

Western Power ­Distribution said around 500,000 ­people were hit in the Midlands, South West and Wales, with power restored shortly after 6pm.

Northern Powergrid, which serves Yorkshire and the North East, said 110,000 people lost power, while at least 26,000 were without power in the North West of England, Electricity North West said.

 People walking through Clapham Junction station in London during a power cut
People walking through Clapham Junction station in London during a power cut CREDIT: PA
The Department for ­Business, Energy and Industrial ­Strategy said: “We are in contact  with National Grid and Energy ­Distribution ­Networks.

The issue is now resolved and the system has ­returned to ­normal.”

However, the knock-on effect for railway commuters lasted well into the evening.

Some passengers were stranded for two hours when overhead power lines lost electricity.

British Transport Police officers were sent to mainline stations to help ease the chaos among swelling crowds of commuters.

Services out of King’s Cross were cancelled as British Transport Police assisted station staff with the crowds, and Thameslink trains between ­London and Bedford were held up.

 King's Cross Station, in London, was evacuated during the power cut
King's Cross Station, in London, was evacuated during the power cut CREDIT: @BENNYWISE19 
A Network Rail spokesman said: “There was a power surge on the national grid which means we lost power to all our signalling over a wide area, including the Newport, Gloucester, Ashford, Bristol, Eastbourne, Hastings, Three Bridges and Exeter areas.

National Grid said: “We had an unexpected and unusual event – the loss of two generators that connect to the GB transmission system, which led to a fall in the frequency of the electricity system.

"Even though these events are outside of our control, we have plans in place to respond and the system operated as planned by disconnecting an isolated portion of electricity demand. 

“We appreciate the inconvenience caused, but this action allows the system to protect itself … allowing for power to be quickly restored.”

Energy watchdog Ofgem said it has demanded an "urgent detailed report" from National Grid "so we can understand what went wrong and decide what further steps need to be taken".

"This could include enforcement action," it added.

Power cut and downpours bring ‘apocalypse’ to streets
For many, the two hours of mayhem caused by Friday evening’s power cuts created scenes reminiscent of a darkly apocalyptic Hollywood film.

Trains rolled to a halt and traffic lights flickered before going blank, leaving drivers second guessing one another on major junctions.

Mobile phone and internet reception went dead as communications masts apparently lost power.

Security alarms running on independent electricity supplies blared into life at homes and businesses because the loss of power was thought to signal thieves breaking in.

Some rail passengers were escorted along tracks to safety after their journeys ended abruptly miles from the nearest train station.

To add to the sense of foreboding, the blackout coincided with torrential downpours and storms sweeping across the country.

Harriet Jackson, 26, described an “apocalyptic” scene after walking from Clapham Junction in south-west London and seeing traffic lights on a cross roads in Battersea go dead at the peak of rush hour at 5pm.

“I realised that nothing was open, and there was hardly any phone signal,” she said.

“All the traffic lights were down, but there were no police present, which meant it was dangerous to cross. Cars weren’t stopping either.

“No one knew what was going on, and, given it’s a Friday afternoon, it’s the last thing you want to encounter. It was like witnessing something out of an apocalyptic film.”

The power cut is believed to have been caused by two power supply plants that failed at around 4pm, the BBC said.

One was a traditional gas and steam fired power station in Cambridgeshire, the other a huge wind turbine farm in the North Sea.

Capacity problems at Britain’s largest single power station in Yorkshire may have been an additional factor, it is understood.

Protective measures that immediately cut electricity supply to a section of the National Grid kicked in due to the sudden drop in available power.

This led to power cuts across England, causing electric trains to grind to a halt and traffic lights to go dark.

By 6.30pm, the problems were fixed and the system was described as operating normally by the National Grid, but the knock-on effect is likely to be felt for several hours to come.

There had already been disruption from heavy rain and gale force winds. Luton Airport was flooded due to the heavy rain.

In Scotland, the first stage of the Women’s Tour of Scotland cycle race was abandoned due to “extreme weather conditions”.

The Met Office has forecast winds of up to 60mph for parts of the Channel coast, south-west England and west Wales today.

7:05pm
No evidence at this point to suggest a cyber attack 
A spokesperson for the NCSC said that their Incident Management Team will be looking into the power cut separately but at this point they haven't found any evidence to suggest a cyber attack. 

"We are looking into to it but at this point there's no evidence at all that it's a cyber attack. 

"Obviously we would look into something like this but we can tell you at this point that there is no evidence. 

"Our Incident Management Team will look into it separately. 

"As with any incident we'll be able to ascertain whether there was evidence of anything untoward but we haven't found anything at all." 

6:42pm
Issue is 'now resolved' say Distribution Network Operator 
National Grid the Electricity System Operator (ESO) in Great Britain have said the issue is now resolved. They claim the power cut was caused by two power generators. 

They said: "We experienced issues with two power generators causing loss of power in selected UK areas.

"The issue is now resolved and the system has returned to normal. Anyone continuing to experience a local issue should contact their local Distribution Network Operator for assistance." 


National Grid ESO
@ng_eso
 We experienced issues with two power generators causing loss of power in selected UK areas. The issue is now resolved and the system has returned to normal. Anyone continuing to experience a local issue should contact their local Distribution Network Operator for assistance

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18:27 - 9 Aug 2019
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6:38pm
Northern Powergrid said 110,000 of its customers lost power 
A spokeswoman for Northern Powergrid said 110,000 of its customers lost power.

She said the problem was with the National Grid's transmission network, which distributes high voltage energy from power stations across the UK.

 People walk in darkness at Clapham Junction 
People walk in darkness at Clapham Junction  CREDIT: PA
Northern Powergrid serves 3.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

Those affected lost power between around 5.10pm and 6pm.

The power cuts were "quite spread apart, (which is) quite unusual", the spokeswoman said.

6:29pm
Last serious power outage was in 2003 and affected 500,000 people 
A serious power outage in 2003 dubbed "the London blackout" saw thousands of commuters trapped on the London underground during rush hour. 

Power was restored after 34 minutes but some areas waited up to two hours for full restoration.  An estimated 500,000 people were affected. 

In a report into the incident, National Grid attributed the outage to a failed transformer at the Hurst substation near Bexley in Kent. 

6:23pm
Police could be forced to 'man busy junctions' after traffic lights 'shut down'
Traffic lights in the capital are also experiencing some problems and police could be forced to man busy junctions where traffic lights have been shut down, Transport for London said.

A TfL spokeswoman said some traffic lights are "not working" but the scale of the problem is not yet known.

Police officers could be called in to "manage the busy junctions, to physically manage them themselves", she said.

"We're just assessing how many traffic signals are out."

 A motorist gets out of his vehicle to direct traffic after a power cut in the area leads to traffic lights failing on the A167 Durham Road, in Low Fell, Gateshead this evening
A motorist gets out of his vehicle to direct traffic after a power cut in the area leads to traffic lights failing on the A167 Durham Road, in Low Fell, Gateshead this evening CREDIT: JAMES OXBOROUGH / NNP
Harriet Jackson described an "apocalyptic" scene when she witnessed the power outage causing traffic lights to cut out on Northcote Road in Battersea, London, after leaving Clapham Junction train station at around 5pm.

"(I) realised that nothing was open and there was hardly any phone signal," the 26-year-old said.

"All the traffic lights were down, but there were no police present, which meant it was dangerous to cross - cars weren't stopping either.

"It was like witnessing something out of an apocalyptic film.

"No one knew what was going on and, given it's a Friday afternoon, it's the last thing you want to encounter."

6:22pm
Newcastle Airport outage lasted for 'around 15 minutes'
Scott McKenzie was travelling through Newcastle Airport when the power cut out for around 15 minutes, in what he was told by officials was "due to a wider problem in the region".

"It was a bit worrying to start - more so because various alarms were going off and staff clearly didn't quite know what was going on either," the 31-year-old from Cardiff said.


Newcastle Airport

@NCLairport
 We advise passengers to allow additional time to make their way to the airport tonight due to power issues affecting the @My_Metro https://twitter.com/My_Metro/status/1159868461750870016 …

Tyne and Wear Metro

@My_Metro
The power issue is being worked upon by the Northern Power Grid. Our trains are running, there will be delays caused by the power problem. Thank you for your patience during this time.

2
17:56 - 9 Aug 2019
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"Some of the spaces in the airport have little daylight - we were literally plunged into darkness and people were using their phones as torches to see and get around."

Mr McKenzie said the problem at the airport "seems to have been resolved". 

A spokesperson for Newcastle Airport confirmed there was a power outage this evening - but says "the airport remains 100 per cent operational".

She said: "There's no disruption and flights will continue as normal."

6:20pm
British Transport Police assisting at train stations 
British Transport Police officers are assisting at train stations after power cuts caused widespread disruption.

The force tweeted: "We currently have BTP officers assisting at several stations owing to current disruption caused by power issues."

6:07pm
Chaos at Victoria Station 
A tube worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “There was a power surge on the Victoria Line.

“The Victoria Line has been down for the last hour and commuters are angry.

“It has just got back up and running but there are severe delays - the whole line has been down so many people have been affected.”

Police officers are present at the underground station and are calming down one infuriated commuter who is shouting and gesticulating.