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Passengers face more rail misery Rail chaos may lead to huge fine
(about 1 hour later)
Rail travellers are facing another day of disruption after engineering work on the West Coast Mainline overran. Network Rail could be fined millions of pounds after overrunning engineering work caused disruption for tens of thousands of travellers.
Rail passengers are facing another day of disruption as work continues on the West Coast Mainline at Rugby.
Scotland to London services were due to return to normal on New Year's Day but staff shortages meant work was delayed.Scotland to London services were due to return to normal on New Year's Day but staff shortages meant work was delayed.
Network Rail has said it expects the work to be completed by 0500 GMT on Friday and has apologised to customers.Network Rail has said it expects the work to be completed by 0500 GMT on Friday and has apologised to customers.
Works at Rugby have shut the line between Birmingham International and Northampton, prompting Virgin to advise passengers not to use its trains.Works at Rugby have shut the line between Birmingham International and Northampton, prompting Virgin to advise passengers not to use its trains.
Meanwhile, London's Liverpool Street Station has now reopened after work on a bridge there also overran.Meanwhile, London's Liverpool Street Station has now reopened after work on a bridge there also overran.
'Substantial fine'
Rail Regulator Chris Bolt said Network Rail had been fined £2.4m last Christmas following signalling problems at Portsmouth.
"That is clearly a precedent we have already put in place, so fining them again, if that will help to resolve these problems, is something we won't hesitate to do," he said.
More people had been affected by the more recent problems than at Portsmouth, he added.
"It's too early to say what the fine might be but it clearly could be substantial," he said.
'Planning error''Planning error'
An inquiry has begun into Network Rail's handling of the maintenance.An inquiry has begun into Network Rail's handling of the maintenance.
Its operations director Robin Gisbey said a "planning error" had resulted in not enough overhead wire electricians being asked to come to work, admitting: "We got it wrong."Its operations director Robin Gisbey said a "planning error" had resulted in not enough overhead wire electricians being asked to come to work, admitting: "We got it wrong."
This has been a fiasco and our customers expect and deserve better Chris Gibb, Virgin Trains Counting the cost of travelThis has been a fiasco and our customers expect and deserve better Chris Gibb, Virgin Trains Counting the cost of travel
He added: "We've now got extra resources into Rugby, we've been flat out over the last couple of days and I'm pretty confident that we will now get it back in the morning.He added: "We've now got extra resources into Rugby, we've been flat out over the last couple of days and I'm pretty confident that we will now get it back in the morning.
"That in itself is dreadful. We shouldn't be doing this to passengers and rail freight users.""That in itself is dreadful. We shouldn't be doing this to passengers and rail freight users."
Chris Gibb, managing director of Virgin Trains, said "very few" passengers had been using its service.Chris Gibb, managing director of Virgin Trains, said "very few" passengers had been using its service.
He added: "What I want to see is a change in behaviour by Network Rail to ensure this never happens again.He added: "What I want to see is a change in behaviour by Network Rail to ensure this never happens again.
"I want to be able to provide a good service to customers, I want to know in advance when the engineering work is going to take place and not be told at the last minute.""I want to be able to provide a good service to customers, I want to know in advance when the engineering work is going to take place and not be told at the last minute."
The company's chief executive Tony Collins said: "This has been a fiasco and our customers expect and deserve better."The company's chief executive Tony Collins said: "This has been a fiasco and our customers expect and deserve better."
Meanwhile, Virgin has announced that saver fares will be available on all trains, including peak services, next Monday and Tuesday to enable customers to travel for less at short notice.Meanwhile, Virgin has announced that saver fares will be available on all trains, including peak services, next Monday and Tuesday to enable customers to travel for less at short notice.
HAVE YOUR SAY This is what happens when you allow essential services, such as public transport, to fall into the clutches of profit-making companies Jeff Minton Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY This is what happens when you allow essential services, such as public transport, to fall into the clutches of profit-making companies Jeff Minton Send us your comments
It also said passengers could claim compensation if their journeys had been affected.It also said passengers could claim compensation if their journeys had been affected.
In the meantime, replacement bus services are operating between Birmingham, Coventry and Northampton, but they are adding up to two hours to journey times.In the meantime, replacement bus services are operating between Birmingham, Coventry and Northampton, but they are adding up to two hours to journey times.
The widespread disruption has coincided with above-inflation fare rises of up to 11%.The widespread disruption has coincided with above-inflation fare rises of up to 11%.
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said passengers had been "on the end of a real double whammy".Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said passengers had been "on the end of a real double whammy".
The inquiry into the delays is being carried out by the Office of Rail Regulation which could order Network Rail be fined.
Last year, it fined the company £2.4m for the late delivery of signalling work around Portsmouth in 2006.
Passengers to and from London are being urged to use alternative routes as follows:
  • Birmingham - Chiltern Railways to Marylebone
  • Nuneaton - Cross Country/East Midlands Trains via Leicester to St Pancras
  • Rugby - Drive to Kettering then East Midlands Trains to St Pancras
  • North West England - Trans Pennine Express/East Midlands Trains via Sheffield to St Pancras
  • North Wales - Virgin Trains/Cross Country/Chiltern Railways via Birmingham to Marylebone
  • Scotland - National Express East Coast to King's Cross
Passengers to and from London are being urged to use alternative routes as follows:
  • Birmingham - Chiltern Railways to Marylebone
  • Nuneaton - Cross Country/East Midlands Trains via Leicester to St Pancras
  • Rugby - Drive to Kettering then East Midlands Trains to St Pancras
  • North West England - Trans Pennine Express/East Midlands Trains via Sheffield to St Pancras
  • North Wales - Virgin Trains/Cross Country/Chiltern Railways via Birmingham to Marylebone
  • Scotland - National Express East Coast to King's Cross