Delays and cancellations hit Yorkshire-bound trains

Further overhead wire problems were found on the East Coast Main Line in Hertfordshire which meant trains were unable to run between Stevenage and Hitchin. As a result there were delays and cancellations on services between Yorkshire and London.

Train companies were hoping to put buses on to operate between Letchworth/Biggleswade and Stevenage.

The continuing problem, which had led to hours-long delays to evening rush-hour commuters yesterday, affected passengers with four train companies - East Coast, First Capital Connect, First Hull Trains and Grand Central.

The problem last night involved 14 “droppers”, which are part of the overhead wires and which were found to be broken with contact wires damaged, causing damage to trains.

Elsewhere on the railways today, a broken-down train at Dumfries in southern Scotland meant buses had to replace trains between Carlisle in Cumbria and Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.

In the Manchester area, a signalling problem near Guide Bridge led to delays for passengers travelling between Romiley/Dinting and Guide Bridge on Northern Rail services.

The Hertfordshire overhead wire problem is the latest, and one of the worst, incidents which have plagued passengers in recent weeks.

After a comparatively trouble-free early autumn, rail services have been hit by numerous rush-hour problems just as the darker days and colder weather arrived.

The next thing for passengers will be average season ticket rises of 4.2% on January 2.