Posted 14th February 2013 | 2 Comments

Major delays after overhead wires collapse

MAJOR disruption is continuing on the southern end of the Midland Main Line, after a reported 1km of overhead wires collapsed at Radlett yesterday.

All services through the area were cancelled, with special timetables applying north of Luton Airport Parkway and buses introduced in a bid to carry thousands of commuters from alternative stations, which included the Underground Northern Line terminus at Edgware.

First Capital Connect and East Midlands Trains have been able to run some services again this morning, after two of the four lines through Radlett were reopened.

But trains are seriously delayed, with one up East Midlands Trains service from Sheffield reported to be 112mins late at Luton.

First Capital Connect apologised to its passengers, and 'strongly advised' them to use alternative routes where possible, because delays and cancellations are continuing. East Midlands Trains warned that its services are facing delays of up to an hour.

The cause of the overhead line collapse is not yet known.

Reader Comments:

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  • Adam, Birmingham

    I don't think the resiliency of the kit has anything to do with this incident, especially it was apparently a 222 (a diesel-electric MU) that ripped the wires down for approx 1km after hitting the initial fault. The wiring on this stretch of line is not like the ECML

  • Martin Hollands, Aylesbury

    I so hope that all the new Electrification that is planned is going to be much more resilient than the existing kit, and that it is easier to fix and replace as well.