Commuters are facing an evening of rail chaos – several Greater Anglia trains have been delayed on the main line between London and Norwich due to a track defect.
Network Rail engineers say a set of points is out of use between Manor Park and Ilford – so some services have to run at a reduced speed.
As a result trains running between London Liverpool Street and Ipswich on the main line and on branch lines Braintree, Ipswich and Clacton are being disrupted.
The delays could last until the end of the day, Greater Anglia bosses have said, as they prepare for a reduced evening peak service with more than a dozen trains cancelled across the network.
Both the rail operator and Network Rail apologised for the disruption and encouraged customers to claim compensation using the Delay Repay tool.
A Greater Anglia spokeswoman said: “A number of services are delayed or cancelled this evening owing to a track defect on the mainline near Manor Park.
“Network Rail engineers are on site and working to fix the fault.
We apologise to those who have been affected.
“Anyone who has been delayed for more than 30 minutes is encouraged to apply for delay repay compensation.”
Frustrated passengers have voiced their concern on social media.
Mark Rookes wrote on Twitter: “@networkrail @greateranglia thanks guys! Got to stand for over 50 minutes in a packed carriage like sardines in stupid heat, thanks very much.”
Full list of delayed and cancelled services for Tuesday, August 15:
15.05 Clacton to London Liv St Terminates at Colchester
15.52 Ipswich to London Liv St Cancelled
16.05 Clacton to London Liv St Terminates at Colchester
16.14 London Liv St to Clacton Calling additionally at Ingatestone
16.17 London Liv St to Witham Cancelled
16.35 Colchester Town to London Liv St Terminates at Shenfield
16.47 London Liv St Witham Cancelled
16.44 London Liv St to Clacton/Harwich Town Starts at Colchester
17.18 London Liv St to Ipswich Cancelled
17.32 London Liv St to Clacton on Sea Starts at Colchester
17.52 London Liv St to Clacton on Sea Starts at Colchester
17.58 London Liv St to Ipswich Cancelled
18.16 Witham to London Liv St Cancelled
18.18 London Liv St to Ipswich Cancelled
18.38 London Liv St to Ipswich Starts at Colchester
18.49 Ipswich to London Liv St Cancelled
19.18 London Liv St to Clacton Starts from Colchester
19.35 Ipswich to London Liv St - Cancelled
19.52 Ipswich to London Liv St Cancelled
15.48 London Liv St to Braintree Starts at Witham
17.00 Braintree to London Liv St Terminates at Witham
17.20 London Liv St to Braintree Starts at Witham
18.00 London Liv St to Braintree Starts at Witham
18.33 Braintree to London Liv St Terminates at Witham
19.25 Braintree to London Liv St Cancelled
This evening’s delays come on the same day commuters were told they could face season ticket price rises of hundreds of pounds from next year.
Read more: Commuters from East Anglia facing steep fare rises as inflation creeps upwards Inflation crept up in July – which means Greater Anglia will be able to increase its fares by an average of up to 3.6%.
The new figures mean that Greater Anglia could put the cost of commuting from Ipswich to Liverpool Street could go up by nearly £230 per year.
Passengers travelling from Colchester could pay up to £180 more per year.
People using the Greater Anglia Network to get from Ipswich to Peterborough are having to use a bus connection from Bury St Edmunds after a freight train derailed near Ely on Monday afternoon.
Read more: Rail link likely to be shut until the weekend at the earliest after derailment
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