Europe
Cyberattack Hits 20 Train Stations Across the UK
This week, the UK experienced a widespread cyberattack that has disrupted services at around 20 train stations across the country. The incident drew comparisons to the recently aired BBC thriller Nightsleeper, which follows the journey of a sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London Euston, only to be hacked and hijacked. The TV, show created by BAFTA-winning writer Nick Leather, is a six-part fictional series. However, the real-life attack has caused significant disruption to major travel hubs, including London Victoria, Manchester Piccadilly, and London Euston.
In addition to these main stations, other key locations such as Leeds City, Liverpool Lime Street, Glasgow Central, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Reading, and Guildford have also been affected, according to reports. Social media users were quick to share their frustration, with internet user Lizzie Mackarel captioning a photo of a blank departure board at Euston station: “Gorgeous scenes at Euston, as ever.”
The cyberattack was first reported around 5:03 p.m. on September 25, causing an immediate impact on services. Messages referencing terror attacks in Europe were displayed when people tried to use the WIFI at affected stations, prompting a Police investigation.
A day later, Network Rail continues to face challenges in restoring normal operations. Although some of the cancellations are also linked to engineering works and weather-related flooding, the cyberattack has amplified the chaos. Last night, even after stations were reopened, National Rail admitted that an intermittent fault with the signalling system between London Liverpool Street and Hackney Downs was causing further disruptions. Services between London Liverpool Street and destinations such as Enfield Town and Chingford faced cancellations, with delays of up to 25 minutes.
According to The Evening Standard, the breach was identified as an unauthorized change made to Network Rail’s Wi-Fi landing page. However, no personal data appears to have been compromised.
The full extent of the cyberattack is still under investigation. Experts believe that this type of disruption could become more frequent as cybercriminals target critical infrastructure. Cybersecurity teams are working to trace the origins of the attack, although no group has yet claimed responsibility.
Compensation
You may be entitled to compensation if you experienced a delay in completing your journey today. Keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.
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