Kings Cross closure: 'Mayhem' at London rail station as power outage prompts it to shut

London Kings Cross Station was closed to "avoid overcrowding", after mass power cuts affected services.

A statement on Friday evening read: "London Kings Cross Station is now closed to Customers due avoid any overcrowding."

London North Eastern Railway said all services in and out were suspended due to a major electricity failure and told customers: "DO NOT TRAVEL."

A statement from National Rail added: "A power failure affecting southern parts of the UK means that some lines to and from London Kings Cross are blocked.

"Grand Central, Hull Trains and LNER services to and from London Kings Cross may be cancelled or delayed by up to 2 hours."

It later stated services on Saturday were expected to be disrupted and "extremely busy" due to the issues.

A further statement on twitter said: "Customers cannot travel from London St Pancras International this evening. Tickets for today will be valid tomorrow."

One train left the station at around 9.30pm and LNER said trains could now leave but there was a "backlog".

Traveller Zoe Hebblethwaite described the situation outside Kings Cross station as "absolute mayhem" after the transport hub was closed due to the power issues.

The 23-year-old had been stuck for almost two hours when she spoke to PA, having arrived at the station at 5.30pm before being told to leave until further notice.

"They have closed doors of the station - no power whatsoever," she said.

"Outside Kings Cross Station is absolute mayhem nobody knows anything nobody can find an assistant to speak to at this point.

"No commuters are allowed in... There is so much confusion."

Teacher Nicola Stephenson and her partner Gareth Edwards, both 56, said they were searching for a hotel after their 9pm train to Peterborough was cancelled.

"All you hear is this announcement that everybody can hear," said Mr Edwards, a social worker.

Andrew Comish, 57, an engineer, said he arrived at the station after flying into Gatwick from Italy, where he was on a work trip.

He said the situation is the worst he has seen at a train station.

Mr Comish said he planned to stay in a hotel and there was no information "whatsoever" on when trains would resume.

A man travelling with his two young children, who refused to be named, added: "It's astonishing. We've been told nothing, we don't know what to do.

"Do we stay and wait or find somewhere to stay? And how much will that cost?"

An earlier LNER statment read: "Due to a major power failure we have been unable to get any trains into #KingsCross this evening, as you can see from the below picture of an empty station. As such, LNER services in and out of King's Cross are currently suspended."

Hull Trains are also advising customers not to travel from London Kings Cross until further notice.

East Midlands Trains was also urging passengers to postpone journeys until Saturday.