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Tree on the line causes rail misery
Peter Dominiczak17.09.09
Thousands of commuters were hit by rush-hour delays when train services were cancelled after a tree fell onto power cables.
Passengers endured waits of up to three hours yesterday evening and staff had to intermittently close Liverpool Street station to cope with the stranded passengers.
Hundreds of people were also stuck on trains after the power was cut on the main line through Chelmsford between Shenfield and Witham after the incident at about 4.20pm.
Emergency services worked for hours to remove the tree which fell on power lines just outside Chelmsford as a train passed underneath.
Furious passengers complained that staff had not kept them informed while they were stuck on trains.
John Holland, 37, a barrister's clerk from Braintree, said: “I'm about an hour behind on my journey home. As usual, they tell us absolutely nothing.”
Sonia Elks, 26, from Colchester, said she was stuck on a train for almost three hours. She said: “It was utter chaos. People were furious. I've never seen a train so busy.”
Jessica Domain, 26, from Braintree, said: “The staff were trying to slowly filter people into the station so there wouldn't be a crush but people were getting pretty angry.”
Kate Greengrass, 26, also from Braintree, said: “The station got completely packed as the crowds kept coming and the staff had to shut the entrance. None of the station staff were telling anybody what was happening.”
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