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Urgent inquiry into rail delays Urgent inquiry into rail delays
(about 11 hours later)
An urgent inquiry is to be carried out into engineering work delays which have caused chaos for thousands of people.An urgent inquiry is to be carried out into engineering work delays which have caused chaos for thousands of people.
The Office of Rail Regulation began the inquiry after West Coast Mainline work overran by two days. Disruption was set to continue on Thursday. The Office of Rail Regulation began the inquiry after West Coast Mainline work overran by two days.
The works at Rugby have left the line closed between Birmingham International and Northampton and Virgin has advised passengers not to use its trains.The works at Rugby have left the line closed between Birmingham International and Northampton and Virgin has advised passengers not to use its trains.
Liverpool Street overland station in London is closed after works overran. London's Liverpool Street station was also closed on Wednesday due to overrunning works but has now reopened.
Virgin said passengers could claim compensation if their journeys had been affected. The railway terminal opened to passengers on Thursday morning, a day late, after being closed for 10 days for work on a bridge and overheard cables.
Remain closed
Network Rail apologised for the delays and said it was working "flat out" to restore normal services.
But it said parts of the West Coast Mainline would remain closed on Thursday because major engineering work was still to be completed.
HAVE YOUR SAY I cannot afford to go on a train so I use my car Darrell Hughes Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I cannot afford to go on a train so I use my car Darrell Hughes Send us your comments
Virgin said passengers could claim compensation if their journeys had been affected by the West Coast Mainline delays.
Network Rail apologised for the delays and said it was working "flat out" to restore normal services.
Chris Gibb, managing director of Virgin Trains, told the BBC that Network Rail said the line around Rugby station would not reopen until 0500 GMT on Friday.Chris Gibb, managing director of Virgin Trains, told the BBC that Network Rail said the line around Rugby station would not reopen until 0500 GMT on Friday.
Network Rail said disruptions would continue on Thursday but said it could not confirm when full services would be restored.
A reduced service into Liverpool Street station was expected to run on Wednesday afternoon, but full services were not expected to be restored until Thursday afternoon.
'Critical issue'
Birmingham International station was also forced to close on Wednesday morning after a small fire broke out. Nobody was injured.Birmingham International station was also forced to close on Wednesday morning after a small fire broke out. Nobody was injured.
The regulator's inquiry could lead to sanctions including a financial penalty. Tales of travel miseryThe regulator's inquiry could lead to sanctions including a financial penalty. Tales of travel misery
Rail regulator chairman Chris Bolt said: "We fined Network Rail for its project planning and management failings after it failed to complete the Portsmouth re-signalling project last Christmas.Rail regulator chairman Chris Bolt said: "We fined Network Rail for its project planning and management failings after it failed to complete the Portsmouth re-signalling project last Christmas.
"It is extremely disappointing to have a repeat of that experience on key parts of the network.""It is extremely disappointing to have a repeat of that experience on key parts of the network."
Network Rail apologised to passengers for the disruption caused by the "unacceptable" overrun. Network Rail has apologised to passengers for the disruption caused by the "unacceptable" overrun.
It said the West Coast route through the Rugby area would remain closed for "at least the remainder" of Wednesday but it could be well into Thursday before services resume. A spokesman said the "critical issue" was a shortage of specialist engineering staff, but additional manpower had been drafted in and was working hard to restore the services as quickly as possible.
A spokesman said the "critical issue" was a shortage of specialist engineering staff, but additional manpower had been drafted in and was working "flat out" to restore the services as quickly as possible. Operations and customer services director Robin Gisby said: "Both these overruns are completely unacceptable and an urgent investigation into what has gone wrong has been launched."
Network Rail said mainline services on the Great Eastern routes through to Norwich, which have been affected by the Liverpool Street works, would be restored on Wednesday afternoon. 'Major inconvenience'
Suburban services would continue to terminate at Stratford in east London, with a full service expected to run from Thursday morning.
Fare rises
Operations and customer services director Robin Gisby said: "Both these overruns are completely unacceptable and an urgent investigation into what has gone wrong has been launched.
"We are deeply sorry for the further disruption this news will cause to passengers.
Our advice is don't try to travel on our trains today to and from London because we are no longer able to provide a very good service Chris Gibb, managing director of Virgin Trains
"We are very grateful for the support of the train operating companies and London Underground in helping us deal with these unacceptable delays."
The delays come as train passengers across the UK face above-inflation fare rises of up to 11%.The delays come as train passengers across the UK face above-inflation fare rises of up to 11%.
Regulated fares, which include most season tickets, are going up by an average of 4.8%, and many unregulated fares are set to rise by much more.Regulated fares, which include most season tickets, are going up by an average of 4.8%, and many unregulated fares are set to rise by much more.
Consumer groups said the rises were unjustified, but train operators said they were needed for improvements.Consumer groups said the rises were unjustified, but train operators said they were needed for improvements.
Liverpool Street overland station was closed so that a bridge could be demolished and track and wiring could be upgraded.
A spokesman for Transport for London said the bridge work was completed on Saturday but the wiring and track work still had to be finished.
'Do not travel'
Rail operator Virgin said it was exasperated about the West Coast Mainline delays and advised its passengers not to travel.Rail operator Virgin said it was exasperated about the West Coast Mainline delays and advised its passengers not to travel.
Mr Gibb said: "This is a major inconvenience to tens of thousands of our customers returning to work and it is not acceptable."Mr Gibb said: "This is a major inconvenience to tens of thousands of our customers returning to work and it is not acceptable."
He later added: "Our advice is don't try to travel on our trains today to and from London because we are no longer able to provide a very good service."
Replacement bus services were being provided between Birmingham, Coventry and Northampton, but they were expected to add two hours to journey times.Replacement bus services were being provided between Birmingham, Coventry and Northampton, but they were expected to add two hours to journey times.
The work had originally been expected to be finished by New Year's Eve, as Network Rail had been hoping to complete the works over the festive period when there were fewer passengers.The work had originally been expected to be finished by New Year's Eve, as Network Rail had been hoping to complete the works over the festive period when there were fewer passengers.
Virgin had already lodged a complaint with the rail regulator after Network Rail announced on 21 December that the works would run into New Year's Eve. They have now run on for a further two days. Virgin had already lodged a complaint with the rail regulator after Network Rail announced on 21 December that the works would run into New Year's Eve.
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
Have you been affected by these delays? Are you having to find alternative ways to get to work? Tell us your thoughts.Have you been affected by these delays? Are you having to find alternative ways to get to work? Tell us your thoughts.
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