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King's Cross cancellations cause rail travel chaos Rail engineering overruns mean long waits for travellers
(about 1 hour later)
All trains to and from London King's Cross have been cancelled because of overrunning engineering work. Passengers on trains serving two of the UK's busiest stations are facing major disruption because of overrunning engineering work.
Passengers were instead told to use Finsbury Park, but the station had to be closed due to overcrowding. King's Cross station in London is closed with travellers told to use Finsbury Park instead.
"Chaotic scenes" were reported, with trains leaving but queuing passengers outside unable to access the platforms. Following "chaotic scenes" at Finsbury Park, passengers face long queues to get on the platforms.
Meanwhile, First Great Western has said there will be no services between London Paddington and Reading due to overrunning engineering works. Engineering work delays also mean there are no services between London Paddington and Reading.
The company is advising passengers to use alternative routes with South West Trains and Chiltern Trains and has offered refunds to commuters who choose not to travel on Saturday. First Great Western is advising Paddington passengers to use alternative routes with South West Trains and Chiltern Trains and has offered refunds to travellers who choose not to travel on Saturday.
West Coast Main Line services are also not running between London Euston and Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire until 29 December, due to planned engineering works. Meanwhile, West Coast Main Line services are not running between London Euston and Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire until 29 December, due to engineering works.
Network Rail said the work near King's Cross was part of a £200m Christmas investment programme and described the move to cancel services as "regrettable and unfortunate". Network Rail said the work near King's Cross was part of a £200m Christmas investment programme and described the move to cancel all services as "regrettable and unfortunate".
A spokesperson for the rail operator apologised for the disruption and said tickets would be valid on Sunday services.A spokesperson for the rail operator apologised for the disruption and said tickets would be valid on Sunday services.
The spokesperson said: "Finsbury Park overground station was closed for safety reasons earlier today as significant crowds were gathering on the platforms. The spokesperson said: "Passengers travelling to and from London King's Cross are advised to travel on another day if at all possible."
"The limited, amended train has resumed but passengers are advised to amend their travel plans if possible." They added that Finsbury Park overground station was closed for safety reasons for an hour from 11:00 GMT as "significant crowds" had been gathering on the platforms.
The Department for Transport said it would have talks with the rail operator about the "disappointing" delay. Following the announcement of the King's Cross cancellations, East Coast Trains said passengers would need to start or finish their journey at Finsbury Park in north London, with at least one change of train.
Following the announcement of the King's Cross cancellations, East Coast Trains said passengers would need to start or finish their journey at Finsbury Park in north London, with at least one change of train. It said customers should defer travel where possible. After the delays at Finsbury Park, a spokesman said its "strong advice" to passengers was to defer travel to another date. Saturday's tickets will be valid on Sunday and Monday.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin is demanding an explanation from Network Rail as to how the disruption has taken place, a source said.
Mr McLoughlin will expect "a full understanding" from Network Rail of what went wrong and what can be done to make sure it does not happen again, added the source.
Earlier, a Department for Transport spokesperson said: "It is extremely disappointing that Network Rail's engineering works have overrun and will affect travellers during this festive season. Passengers will be rightly annoyed.
"This was essential work but passengers need to be able to plan and rely on Network Rail meeting its deadlines for having the network back in service."
Labour, meanwhile, have accused the government of allowing almost the entire rail network to be shut down on Boxing Day.
Shadow transport secretary Michael Dugher said: "Now we see this further unacceptable disruption, just as people try and get home after Christmas."
'Unable to leave''Unable to leave'
Network Rail said Finsbury Park station had to be closed temporarily at about 11:00 GMT. At 12:15 the company said some trains were stopping at platforms, but the station remained closed to customers waiting outside. BBC journalist Vicky Riddell said there had been chaotic scenes at Finsbury Park.
National Rail has since tweeted to say Finsbury Park has reopened with a queuing system in place.
BBC journalist Vicky Riddell said there had been chaotic scenes at the station.
"People were unable to leave the station via one of the exits due to overcrowding in the underground passageways which led to the overground platforms," she said."People were unable to leave the station via one of the exits due to overcrowding in the underground passageways which led to the overground platforms," she said.
"Outside, the entrance to the mainline station was blocked due to the volume of people trying to get in and out, leading to people missing their trains due to being simply unable to get into the station.""Outside, the entrance to the mainline station was blocked due to the volume of people trying to get in and out, leading to people missing their trains due to being simply unable to get into the station."
'Everyone is arguing' Jonathan Nicholls, from London, had been queuing for two hours outside the station to try and get a train to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Jonathan Nicholls, from London, has been queuing for two hours outside the station to try and get a train to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
He said: "There's no-one outside the station giving any directions, no police or anything.He said: "There's no-one outside the station giving any directions, no police or anything.
"Everyone seems to have holed themselves up inside the station and just closed the grille and everyone is arguing and shouting and trying to move people out of the way themselves.""Everyone seems to have holed themselves up inside the station and just closed the grille and everyone is arguing and shouting and trying to move people out of the way themselves."
Transport for London tweeted that travellers should "avoid the station if possible". David Sidebottom, passenger director at the watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "Investment in maintenance and improvement is necessary, and we passengers understand that.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "It is extremely disappointing that Network Rail's engineering works have overrun and will affect travellers during this festive season. Passengers will be rightly annoyed.
"This was essential work but passengers need to be able to plan and rely on Network Rail meeting its deadlines for having the network back in service."
David Sidebottom, passenger director at Passenger Focus, said: "Investment in maintenance and improvement is necessary, and we passengers understand that.
"We will be looking to see that operators and Network Rail are doing all in their power to alert passengers, to help them make alternative arrangements and to make it easy for them to claim refunds or compensation.""We will be looking to see that operators and Network Rail are doing all in their power to alert passengers, to help them make alternative arrangements and to make it easy for them to claim refunds or compensation."
Sunday delaysSunday delays
A Network Rail spokesman said the work was "a small part of a massive amount of engineering investment taking place over Christmas".A Network Rail spokesman said the work was "a small part of a massive amount of engineering investment taking place over Christmas".
He said 4.5 million passengers use the railways on average every day, compared with two million a day over the Christmas and New Year holiday.He said 4.5 million passengers use the railways on average every day, compared with two million a day over the Christmas and New Year holiday.
About 300 projects are being undertaken over the holidays across 2,000 sites up and down the country.About 300 projects are being undertaken over the holidays across 2,000 sites up and down the country.
National Rail said a reduced service to and from London King's Cross was expected to operate on Sunday, but journeys could be retimed and take longer than expected.National Rail said a reduced service to and from London King's Cross was expected to operate on Sunday, but journeys could be retimed and take longer than expected.
Trains will leave King's Cross up to 20 minutes earlier than normal, resuming their usual stopping times from Peterborough. Services to King's Cross will arrive up to 40 minutes later than normal.Trains will leave King's Cross up to 20 minutes earlier than normal, resuming their usual stopping times from Peterborough. Services to King's Cross will arrive up to 40 minutes later than normal.
Other services will start or end at Doncaster, Newark North Gate, Peterborough or Stevenage.Other services will start or end at Doncaster, Newark North Gate, Peterborough or Stevenage.
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Were you planning to travel from King's Cross today? How has the disruption affected your plans? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Were you planning to travel from King's Cross today? How has the disruption affected your plans? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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