Heat brings major train delays

Travellers face extra delays on top on speed limits in the heat

Travellers on East Anglian trains faced extra delays on Wednesday afternoon after soaring temperatures affected overhead power cables.

A Network Rail spokesman said cables at Maryland near Shenfield had been damaged, forcing two out of London's Liverpool Street to close.

The closure affected services to Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Travellers were facing delays of more than an hour to some Anglia Intercity services to Norwich.

The company has also been forced to cancel some rushhour trains.

First Great Eastern commuter services from London to Essex are also running up to 50 minutes late.

The new problems arose when speed restrictions were aleardy in place on the London to Norwich line amid fears that the track could buckle in the intense heat.

The normal limit of 100mph had been cut to 80mph.