Overhead line damage caused severe delays to services

Severe delays were caused on Friday evening as passengers were advised to travel via Stansted to Colchester.

The incident between Ingatestone and Chelmsford affected services from London Liverpool Street to Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton and Braintree.

One hopes to have services back to normal by Saturday lunchtime.

'Alternative travel'

About 1,000 people were told to travel to Stansted on Friday evening. Police were called to keep order and there were reports that commuters rushed towards buses laid on to take them to their destinations.

One eyewitness said she saw ambulances arrive to tend to people who were feeling ill.

A company statement said: "Engineering work will take place during Friday evening and Saturday morning to repair the overhead wires.

"Services are not expected to return to normal until at least midday on Saturday, and customers are advised to delay their journeys until after midday wherever possible or to use alternative travel methods."

The firm apologised for any inconvenience caused to passengers.

One passengers experienced delays on the same route on Wednesday night when power cables came down at Hatfield Peverel in Essex.