This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21516102
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Major delays on London and Peterborough East Coast line | Major delays on London and Peterborough East Coast line |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of passengers on one of the UK's key rail routes are being advised not to travel after overhead power lines caused major delays. | Thousands of passengers on one of the UK's key rail routes are being advised not to travel after overhead power lines caused major delays. |
| No trains were able to run on the east coast mainline between London and Peterborough during rush hour. | No trains were able to run on the east coast mainline between London and Peterborough during rush hour. |
| The problem was caused by a power line failure in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. | The problem was caused by a power line failure in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. |
| Network Rail told passengers heading to or from stations south of Peterborough, including London King's Cross, not to travel. | Network Rail told passengers heading to or from stations south of Peterborough, including London King's Cross, not to travel. |
| One line has been opened for diesel trains only therefore offering a very limited East Coast service but it could be Friday by the time a full electric service is restored, operator First Capital Connect said | |
| A statement from First Capital Connect said: "Due to the collapse of approximately 1km (0.62 miles) of overhead electrical wire between Peterborough and Biggleswade, First Capital Connect are currently unable to operate any services to Peterborough, Huntingdon, St Neots and Sandy". | |
| It added: "Network Rail have made repairs to allow diesels trains to run through the affected area but this will be a limited service supplied by East Coast. | |
| "First Capital Connect trains are powered by overhead cables which is why we cannot operate at all between the stations listed above. | |
| "It is expected that we can use two out of the four lines by Thursday morning with full restoration planned for Friday morning." | |
| Passengers stranded | Passengers stranded |
| The problems began on Tuesday night when about 200 people were stranded at King's Cross after the last train to Leeds was cancelled. | The problems began on Tuesday night when about 200 people were stranded at King's Cross after the last train to Leeds was cancelled. |
| One passenger said they were put on a coach to Peterborough at 03:40 GMT but it was involved in a minor accident in Huntingdon. | One passenger said they were put on a coach to Peterborough at 03:40 GMT but it was involved in a minor accident in Huntingdon. |
| The east coast mainline is the main link between London and Edinburgh and also serves major cities in Yorkshire. | The east coast mainline is the main link between London and Edinburgh and also serves major cities in Yorkshire. |
| Network Rail said all four lines between Biggleswade and Peterborough had been blocked. | |
| It wants people to defer journeys until Thursday, when tickets dated for travel on Wednesday will be accepted. | It wants people to defer journeys until Thursday, when tickets dated for travel on Wednesday will be accepted. |
| East Coast Trains is running a limited service with diesel trains - which do not need overhead power lines - via Cambridge. | East Coast Trains is running a limited service with diesel trains - which do not need overhead power lines - via Cambridge. |
| First Capital Connect say buses are replacing trains between Peterborough and Biggleswade and are warning journey times could be extended by an hour. | First Capital Connect say buses are replacing trains between Peterborough and Biggleswade and are warning journey times could be extended by an hour. |
| It is thought many of the passengers stranded overnight had been to the Arsenal's Champions League game against Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium in north London. | It is thought many of the passengers stranded overnight had been to the Arsenal's Champions League game against Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium in north London. |
| Jonathan Selwyn said his family got on the 23:30 GMT train at King's Cross and were kept on for about four hours with no information, when they were put on a coach to Peterborough. | Jonathan Selwyn said his family got on the 23:30 GMT train at King's Cross and were kept on for about four hours with no information, when they were put on a coach to Peterborough. |
| "We were heading up the motorway and found ourselves careering through the central reservation," he said. | "We were heading up the motorway and found ourselves careering through the central reservation," he said. |
| "I'm here with my 12-year-old son, my 15-year-old son, my wife and 80-year-old mother. It's bit of a nightmare." | "I'm here with my 12-year-old son, my 15-year-old son, my wife and 80-year-old mother. It's bit of a nightmare." |
| Mike Manning had been to the Millwall v Peterborough football match and was also kept on the 23:30 train for several hours before getting on the coach which crashed. | Mike Manning had been to the Millwall v Peterborough football match and was also kept on the 23:30 train for several hours before getting on the coach which crashed. |
| 'Exceptional situation' | 'Exceptional situation' |
| He said: "The coach started rattling, I thought it was going to tilt over but fortunately everyone is safe." | |
| Everyone on the coach got off at about 05:00 GMT and were kept in a lay-by until another replacement bus came to take them to Peterborough. | Everyone on the coach got off at about 05:00 GMT and were kept in a lay-by until another replacement bus came to take them to Peterborough. |
| A spokeswoman from East Coast Trains said it was "very sorry" for what happened to the stranded passengers. | A spokeswoman from East Coast Trains said it was "very sorry" for what happened to the stranded passengers. |
| "It was an exceptional situation at King's Cross," she said. | "It was an exceptional situation at King's Cross," she said. |
| "We kept passengers on the train while we were waiting updates from Network Rail. | "We kept passengers on the train while we were waiting updates from Network Rail. |
| "It is unacceptable if they had no information and we are looking into what happened. | "It is unacceptable if they had no information and we are looking into what happened. |
| "We can understand it was awful for the passengers and it was not only annoying but hugely inconvenient." | "We can understand it was awful for the passengers and it was not only annoying but hugely inconvenient." |
| Were you a stranded passenger at King's Cross station overnight? Please tell us about your experience using the form below. | Were you a stranded passenger at King's Cross station overnight? Please tell us about your experience using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |