East Anglia’s rail link with the midlands and north is likely to be severed until the weekend at the earliest after a freight train derailment near Ely on Monday afternoon.
Engineers from Network Rail spent Tuesday starting to move the train, but that is likely to take several days.
The last 11 wagons on the 33-wagon train came off the track causing major damage to both tracks just to the west of the Ely North junction.
Bosses at Greater Anglia would only say the line would be closed for “several days,” but it is understood that the earliest it could reopen is Saturday – and that is not certain.
Passengers from Ipswich to Peterborough are having to use a bus connection from Bury St Edmunds to Peterborough and there are also bus connections to that city from Norwich and Cambridge. Journeys with the bus link take about 45-60 minutes longer than by train so passengers should allow themselves extra time.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here