London Liverpool Street Station was evacuated on December 17 due to a police incident involving a suspicious package.
As the station is one of London’s major transport hubs, it was disrupted during the busy holiday travel period, and passengers hurriedly evacuated as alarms sounded and police responded to the situation.
According to reports, the evacuation was initiated shortly after the discovery of the suspicious item as British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police responded.
A spokesperson from Greater Anglia, one of the train operators affected, stated, “Regrettably, services in and out of Liverpool Street are disrupted due to police managing an incident at the station.”
Passenger Oliver West, 32 said, “Police were telling everyone to back away from the barriers. Plenty of confusion was created until he got into the train.”
He added, “I was waiting near the barriers, and there were lots of police there, telling us all to back away. Then the alarm started going off.”
Another person was heading towards Audley End Station in Essex as part of his commute home; he said he arrived at Liverpool Street after work at around 6.15 pm, and within 10-15 minutes the disruption started.
“The main hall was jam-packed full of people, and I think at that point they’d already started cancelling trains.”
One commuter also described, “London Liverpool Street Station was completely evacuated just as I was about to catch my train home. Sirens were blaring, and we were instructed to leave immediately… it felt like something out of a war zone!”
As police conducted their investigation, platforms were closed off and train services experienced delays and cancellations. National Rail warned that disruptions could last until 10 PM that evening.
It also affects various routes, including those connecting Liverpool Street with Stansted Airport and other destinations. The Elizabeth Line and London Underground services were also affected and complicated travel plans.
Network Rail confirmed that the evacuation was necessary for safety reasons. They reported that a suspicious bag had been discovered in the vicinity of the station.
As investigations continued, both the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police were contracted for further updates on the situation.
Despite the chaos, many passengers remained calm and cooperative. One commuter remarked, “It’s frustrating to be delayed during such a busy time, but safety comes first. I just hope they resolve this quickly.”
However, the operation gradually returned to normal later in the evening. Authorities continue to emphasize vigilance among commuters while ensuring that safety protocols are followed in response to any potential threats.
