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Overhead cables damage causes widespread train delays Overhead cables damage causes widespread train delays
(35 minutes later)
Rail passengers face disruption to their journeys after overhead wires on the West Coast mainline near Milton Keynes were damaged.Rail passengers face disruption to their journeys after overhead wires on the West Coast mainline near Milton Keynes were damaged.
Services on the line between Northampton and Milton Keynes will be disrupted all day, according to train operator London Midland. Services on the line between Northampton and Milton Keynes will be delayed all day, according to train operator London Midland.
Engineers are investigating the cause of the damage to the cables at Hanslope Junction.Engineers are investigating the cause of the damage to the cables at Hanslope Junction.
Replacement bus services are operating between the affected stations.Replacement bus services are operating between the affected stations.
The problems are affecting trains between London and the Midlands and the direct Rugby to Milton Keynes route. The problems are disrupting trains between London and the Midlands and the direct Rugby to Milton Keynes route.
London Midland apologised to passengers and said services north of Northampton were still running but subject to delays and cancellations. All Virgin Trains from London Euston have been cancelled and the company's services across England and into Scotland are suffering disruption.
Passengers can also travel from Northampton to Wellingborough to connect to East Midland services to St Pancras station in London. Virgin passengers can go from Northampton to Rugby and change there to other services as their tickets are being accepted by other operators on services across the north of England, the Midlands and Wales.
Virgin Trains passengers can go from Northampton to Rugby and change there to other services as their tickets, and London Midland's, are being accepted by alternative operators. Train caught in wires
Network Rail said a train pantograph had become entangled with overhead lines at the junction and they were damaged. London Midland said services north of Northampton were still running, but subject to delays and cancellations.
"At around 05:00 GMT on Friday the overhead wires on the West Coast Main Line, just north of Milton Keynes (at Hanslope Junction) suffered damage blocking all four lines," a spokesman said. Buses are now running between Northampton and Wellingborough to connect to East Midland Trains services going north to Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield and south to St Pancras station in London.
London Midland said their tickets will be honoured by passengers going on to use Chiltern Railways and East Midland Trains services but are being advised that journey times are taking up to two hours longer.
Network Rail said a train pantograph had become entangled with overhead lines at the junction and the cables were damaged.
"At around 05:00 GMT on Friday the overhead wires on the West Coast Main Line, just north of Milton Keynes (at Hanslope Junction), suffered damage blocking all four lines," a spokesman said.
"An empty train, moving into position for the morning peak is currently entangled in wires that have come down."An empty train, moving into position for the morning peak is currently entangled in wires that have come down.
"Network Rail engineers are currently on site and hope to restore two of the four lines by lunchtime with the aim of restoring all lines tomorrow following overnight work."Network Rail engineers are currently on site and hope to restore two of the four lines by lunchtime with the aim of restoring all lines tomorrow following overnight work.
"All lines remain blocked," the spokesman said."All lines remain blocked," the spokesman said.