Train services hit by major delays

COMMUTERS are set to face misery on the platforms this morning as a reduced rail service is expected to be operating after damage to overhead power lines.

The problems first surfaced in rush hour last night, with the damage causing severe delays and tens of train cancellations.

A spokeswoman for rail operator One said last night that services in Essex were the worst hit, but there were also problems with the London-Norwich mainline.

She added: “We've got problems between Romford and Chadwell Heath with damage to overhead power lines - it's a stretch of three-quarters of a mile of overhead lines that have been damaged.

“Network Rail have just got on the scene to repair it. There were a lot of cancellations in the Essex area from 4.50 onwards with our metro services between London Liverpool Street, Shenfield, Southend and Clacton affected.

“We've only had a couple of cancellations on the London to Norwich mainline but it's fairly severe.

“They will be repairing it overnight but I'm not sure how long it will before the whole thing is fixed.

“We could be looking at a reduced service during the day tomorrow.”

The spokeswoman advised that those who use the metro services from Essex into London should take the bus this morning, while commuters on the Norwich-London line brace themselves for a reduced service.

She added: “We don't know what caused the damage yet. Our priority has been getting people to their destinations and trying to keep the service going as best we can.

“It's been pretty horrendous out there tonight. We'd like to apologise to passengers for the inconvenience.

“There will be an investigation into what happened and we're working with Network Rail to put things right.”

n High winds also led to reports of trees being blown over onto roads last night. However, a spokesman for Suffolk police said the problems were isolated to rural routes and they had taken no reports of accidents caused by the weather.