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| 'Rushed work' led to rail chaos | 'Rushed work' led to rail chaos |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Disruption on a major rail line was caused because of a "rush" to upgrade the route, it has been claimed. | Disruption on a major rail line was caused because of a "rush" to upgrade the route, it has been claimed. |
| The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the West Coast Main Line upgrade had been completed in haste, leading to a string of problems since new year. | The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the West Coast Main Line upgrade had been completed in haste, leading to a string of problems since new year. |
| Services in and out of London Euston were halted earlier after a power cable failure. Lines have now reopened. | |
| Network Rail said it was too early to know what caused the latest fault - the fourth major disruption in six days. | Network Rail said it was too early to know what caused the latest fault - the fourth major disruption in six days. |
| This will feel like deja vu to many customers on the west coast line Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretary | This will feel like deja vu to many customers on the west coast line Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretary |
| All routes in and out of Euston remain affected, but limited services have now resumed. | All routes in and out of Euston remain affected, but limited services have now resumed. |
| The line will be closed again later for emergency works with the aim of getting services back to normal for Thursday morning. | |
| From 2130 GMT Virgin Trains will not run services between Euston and Milton Keynes. | From 2130 GMT Virgin Trains will not run services between Euston and Milton Keynes. |
| Buses will operate between Milton Keynes and Luton so Virgin customers can catch East Midlands trains in and out of London. | Buses will operate between Milton Keynes and Luton so Virgin customers can catch East Midlands trains in and out of London. |
| And London Midland will not run services between Euston and Watford from 2130 GMT. Replacement buses will instead operate. | And London Midland will not run services between Euston and Watford from 2130 GMT. Replacement buses will instead operate. |
| Some Tube services will also be affected. | Some Tube services will also be affected. |
| The latest power failure was the fourth incident in a week to disrupt the West Coast Main Line, which has led to 70% of all Virgin services running late since new year. | The latest power failure was the fourth incident in a week to disrupt the West Coast Main Line, which has led to 70% of all Virgin services running late since new year. |
| BCC director general David Frost said: "Businesses have lost a staggering £38m in just three days because Network Rail have again failed to adequately deliver. | |
| "The BCC questioned Network Rail's decision to bring forward the deadline of the west coast upgrade last year. | "The BCC questioned Network Rail's decision to bring forward the deadline of the west coast upgrade last year. |
| "We believe the recent disruptions have occurred because this vital project was rushed." | "We believe the recent disruptions have occurred because this vital project was rushed." |
| Full investigation | Full investigation |
| Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: "This will feel like deja vu to many customers on the west coast line. | Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: "This will feel like deja vu to many customers on the west coast line. |
| "If there is any truth in the claim that disruptions have been caused by rushed work by Network Rail this would be a serious problem." | |
| The latest power failure followed problems on Tuesday at Rugby, Warwickshire, and Bletchley, Buckinghamshire. | The latest power failure followed problems on Tuesday at Rugby, Warwickshire, and Bletchley, Buckinghamshire. |
| Before that travellers were disrupted on Sunday and Monday as engineers worked at Watford Junction to repair damaged power lines. | Before that travellers were disrupted on Sunday and Monday as engineers worked at Watford Junction to repair damaged power lines. |
| And on Friday and Saturday the line was closed after a plane crashed near the tracks in Staffordshire, killing three people. | And on Friday and Saturday the line was closed after a plane crashed near the tracks in Staffordshire, killing three people. |
| A Network Rail spokesman said a "full investigation" was being carried out in to the cause of all the problems. | A Network Rail spokesman said a "full investigation" was being carried out in to the cause of all the problems. |
| "At this stage there is no suggestion that the new timetable is a factor in this. | "At this stage there is no suggestion that the new timetable is a factor in this. |
| "We understand that passengers are frustrated by what's happened this week. We have worked very hard to rectify the problems." | "We understand that passengers are frustrated by what's happened this week. We have worked very hard to rectify the problems." |