West Coast main line damage fixed

Delays to the line started on Friday after a plane crash

Engineers have worked overnight to successfully repair damage to overhead power cables on the West Coast main line at Watford Junction.

Trains in and out of Euston were cancelled and replacement bus services laid on for passengers after the cables came down on Sunday afternoon.

Virgin Trains was still running a reduced service on Monday afternoon.

However, Network Rail said London Midland was now running a "largely normal" service.

Network Rail said there had been "extensive damage" to overhead power cables.

The problems at Watford came as a section of the same line in Staffordshire closed after a plane crashed between the tracks.

A light aircraft hit the line near Stafford on Friday, killing three people on board.

Not a good weekend for us, and our customers in particular

Chris Gibb
Virgin Trains

Train services were reduced while engineers worked to remove the wreckage and fix the damaged tracks.

That section of line was fully open in time for Monday's rush hour but on Sunday, before the line was fully back to normal, damaged power cables further south at Watford Junction hit the service again.

The Chief Operating Officer for Virgin Trains, Chris Gibb, was at Milton Keynes station where passengers had to leave trains and use replacement buses to continue their journeys south.

He said: "No sooner had we fixed the problems caused by the light aircraft that crashed near Stafford, unfortunately the overhead wires came down at Watford Junction, blocking all four tracks there.

"So not a good weekend for us, and our customers in particular."

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The West Coast main line is now open but Virgin services are likely to be impacted due to displacement of trains and crews, a statement from Network Rail said.

Passengers are advised to check with train operators before starting journeys.

London Midland and Virgin Trains run services in and out of Euston.

London Overground services are not affected between London Euston and Watford Junction.

A spokesman for Virgin Trains added that Virgin tickets would be valid on other rail operators where alternative routes were possible.

He advised passengers to delay their journeys.

"I know many people will find that impossible, but if it is possible to delay a journey, or at least schedule a meeting for later in the morning, that may make things easier," he said.