Rush hour chaos as the Elizabeth Line is suspended leaving passengers stranded on packed trains for more than an hour - as commuters battle to find alternative routes on strike day

A power fault tonight has left people stranded on the Elizabeth Line with passengers stuck in packed freezing cold carriages unable to move.

Damage to the overhead wires means there is currently no trains running between Paddington and London Heathrow.

Pictures posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, show passengers standing on packed trains which have been stuck on the tracks for an hour. 

Dr Bamo Nouri is one of those stuck and said the line had 'almost completely blacked out'.

Transport for London does not know how long the delays will last with the line now suspended. 

Dr Nouri wrote on X: '#Elizabeth line has almost completely blacked out with a fully loaded set of carriages and many standing. No real or substantial updates, no sense of urgency - been sat for almost an hour!'

Do YOU work on the Elizabeth Line? email martin.robinson@mailonline.co.uk 

One eyewitness claimed on X a train ahead had hit some overhead lines, although this is yet to be confirmed by TfL.

While another said a train driver had to shout at passengers trying to get off the train.

A video showed passengers sitting in a blacked out carriage of the 1837 Paddington service with their faces being lit up by the glow from their mobile phones. 

One frustrated commuter said: 'The Elizabeth Line has failed again just when passengers needed it most. At Paddington there were old folk, people with babies with absolutely no way of getting home.' 

Mickey Worrall, who posted the video, said people were opening up the doors to get onto the line.  

Danny Cowan, a voiceover artist who has appeared on Channel 4 and Netflix, was making his way to his agent's Christmas party when the train came to sudden halt more than an hour ago.

He wrote on X the heating had gone off and he was so cold he could barely think.

He said: 'Hey any fear you might get this FREEZING COLD (no heating) Elizabeth Line train moving that's been stuck outside Acton Town for over an hour now? 

'The driver has already had to shout at passengers who are trying to get off. Some information would be nice.'

Emma Bentley has been stuck between Paddington and Acton for 90 minutes.

She said: 'The carriages have now lost power, and it seems we may be walking home…' 

Another stranded passenger was having his patience tested and wrote: 'We have no power, so can't move! I need a pee - mind over matter!'

The disruption is expected to last until the end of the day with current delays of 60 minutes. 

No trains are calling at stations between Paddington and London Heathrow and Reading while the final Heathrow Express has also been cancelled. 

MailOnline has contacted Transport for London for comment. 

Do YOU work on the Elizabeth Line? email martin.robinson@mailonline.co.uk