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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| East coast rail disruptions set to ease | East coast rail disruptions set to ease |
| (7 days later) | |
| Rail bosses are optimistic that east coast services will be restored to near normal by Tuesday evening rush hour, after almost 24 hours of disruption caused by power cable damage on a key line. | Rail bosses are optimistic that east coast services will be restored to near normal by Tuesday evening rush hour, after almost 24 hours of disruption caused by power cable damage on a key line. |
| Mainline services from London to York and Edinburgh were running hourly and at normal speeds by lunchtime after engineers re-opened three of the four tracks around Hitchin that had closed the line on Monday. The closure caused hours of delays for evening commuters and affected passengers travelling with four train companies — East Coast, FCC, First Hull Trains and Grand Central. | Mainline services from London to York and Edinburgh were running hourly and at normal speeds by lunchtime after engineers re-opened three of the four tracks around Hitchin that had closed the line on Monday. The closure caused hours of delays for evening commuters and affected passengers travelling with four train companies — East Coast, FCC, First Hull Trains and Grand Central. |
| Some services, including First Capital Connect trains to Cambridge, remained cancelled. Hitchin station was closed and buses were replacing trains between Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City. | Some services, including First Capital Connect trains to Cambridge, remained cancelled. Hitchin station was closed and buses were replacing trains between Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City. |
| An East Coast spokeman said there should be a full service with no significant delays later, once the backlog of trains was cleared. | An East Coast spokeman said there should be a full service with no significant delays later, once the backlog of trains was cleared. |
| Network Rail's managing director of network operations, Robin Gisby, said: "I would like to apologise for the disruption passengers have experienced yesterday evening and today. We have had teams on site in Hitchin since yesterday afternoon and working through the night to fix the problem, which originally occurred at 2.30pm. Unfortunately, further damage was found nearby when services resumed this morning. | Network Rail's managing director of network operations, Robin Gisby, said: "I would like to apologise for the disruption passengers have experienced yesterday evening and today. We have had teams on site in Hitchin since yesterday afternoon and working through the night to fix the problem, which originally occurred at 2.30pm. Unfortunately, further damage was found nearby when services resumed this morning. |
| "Passengers are advised to check with their train operator before travelling, as it may take some time for services to return to normal." | "Passengers are advised to check with their train operator before travelling, as it may take some time for services to return to normal." |
| The overhead wire problem is one of the worst of a string of incidents to have affected services in recent weeks. | The overhead wire problem is one of the worst of a string of incidents to have affected services in recent weeks. |
| Britain's other main north-south artery, the west coast main line, is likely to be the scene of further passenger woe next week as planned engineering works will mean no direct fast trains from the capital on the line to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow during the Christmas getaway period. From Sunday 23 December all trains on the line from Euston will terminate at Nuneaton, where passengers must change for onward services. | Britain's other main north-south artery, the west coast main line, is likely to be the scene of further passenger woe next week as planned engineering works will mean no direct fast trains from the capital on the line to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow during the Christmas getaway period. From Sunday 23 December all trains on the line from Euston will terminate at Nuneaton, where passengers must change for onward services. |
| Threatened strikes may also disrupt services. RMT union members at CrossCountry Trains are due to strike for 24 hours on Friday, threatening disruption to services from Penzance to Aberdeen. The union has also announced two strikes at ScotRail on Saturday and again on Christmas Eve, in a row over the sacking of a worker. | Threatened strikes may also disrupt services. RMT union members at CrossCountry Trains are due to strike for 24 hours on Friday, threatening disruption to services from Penzance to Aberdeen. The union has also announced two strikes at ScotRail on Saturday and again on Christmas Eve, in a row over the sacking of a worker. |
| A tube strike looms for Boxing Day which will disrupt, but is unlikely to halt services. Aslef members on London Underground will stop work on 26 December, and 18 and 25 January in a long-running dispute over bank holiday pay. | A tube strike looms for Boxing Day which will disrupt, but is unlikely to halt services. Aslef members on London Underground will stop work on 26 December, and 18 and 25 January in a long-running dispute over bank holiday pay. |
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