RAIL operator Greater Anglia has issued an apology to travellers after two days of rail chaos caused by incidents on the line.

Services between London and the region were thrown into chaos on Wednesday evening after there was a report of a train hitting someone at Goodmayes in south Essex at about 7pm.

The lines were closed for about two hours while members of the British Transport Police carried out an initial investigation.

The lines reopened two hours later – but there were further delays when a freight train broke down between Marks Tey and Colchester.

Passengers complained about the lack of information – one traveller trying to get from Ipswich to Norwich said when he asked staff when the next train would arrive he was told: “We don’t know any more than you and your Twitter feed.”

A Greater Anglia spokeswoman said: “We apologise to our customers for the severe delays to our services on Wednesday evening following a report of a person hit by a train.

“We are sorry too, that in some places and instances information provision to our customers was not as detailed or frequent as we would have wished.

“We will also review why it took so long for us to restore the normal service.”

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “BTP officers were called to the line close to Goodmayes rail station on Wednesday, November 21, after a driver reported striking a person on one of the platforms.

“BTP and Essex Police officers attended the incident, which was reported to BTP at 7pm. A thorough search of the area was carried out last night by officers, but no person was found.

“Officers are continuing their search and enquiries are ongoing, including checks with local hospitals and mental health units.”

There was further disruption after a person died after being hit by a train at Marks Tey yesterday morning.

The lines were closed from about 11am while the track was cleared and initial investigations took place – with services resuming at 11.55am.