Greater Anglia services 'severely disrupted' by signalling fault
More than 150 journeys by one rail operator have been cancelled or delayed because of "major" signalling faults on rural lines.
Greater Anglia services in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex have been affected. Issues were expected to last all day and follow a weekend of disruption. Disgruntled passengers have called the delays "ridiculous". The train company and Network Rail said they were investigated the signalling problem. All services between Ipswich and Felixstowe have been suspended, but a rail replacement service has been put in place. Ipswich to Peterborough services were suspended until further notice due to a shortage of trains as a result of the signalling fault. Greater Anglia confirmed all services between Cambridge and Norwich will start and end at Ely. A two-hourly service will operate between Ipswich and Cambridge. 'Total joke' One passenger posted on Twitter to say "I am so pleased that I only have four more days of being a @greateranglia hostage... yet more trains to Cambridge are cancelled". Another traveller posted "You cancel more trains than you run and if they do run they are late. It's a total joke". A joint statement issued by Greater Anglia's managing director Jamie Burle and Network Rail's Anglia route director Mark Budden apologised for "the continued disruption" and said engineers were investigating the signalling problems. "We are examining every factor including components of the signalling system, the impact of leaf fall, and the interaction between the signalling system and passenger trains, old and new," they said. "We fully appreciate this situation is extremely frustrating for passengers and it is an absolute priority for us to get these problems resolved as soon as possible." In other travel news, passengers going to and from Ely and Cambridge will be able to use their tickets on Great Northern and Cross Country services. Greater Anglia tickets will also be accepted on local First Suffolk buses. The train operator said it was working with other transport companies to help give alternative travel options to passengers. Services between Sudbury and Marks Tey were also affected by the signalling issue and buses were being provided, but trains were running again for the morning commute, said Greater Anglia. Customers have also been warned to expect disruption between Cromer and Sheringham on the north Norfolk coast. Manea and Whittlesey stations in the Cambridgeshire Fens will not be served at all due to the fault. Last week the rail operator was criticised for its "appalling" service by the East Suffolk Travellers' Association (ESTA).