John Wicks spokesman from Leighton Hospital, Crewe

But urgent track repairs have yet to be carried out, meaning that it could be Friday afternoon before the main West Coast line re-opens.

Thirty-one people were injured after a London to Glasgow Virgin Rail train collided with a stationary local train near Winsford, Cheshire, on Wednesday morning. One is still receiving treatment at Leighton Hospital, near Crewe.

The driver of the Virgin train prevented a major disaster by braking seconds before the impact, slowing down from 110mph to about 50mph.

The locomotive of the rush-hour express was thrown into the air by the impact, and four carriages were derailed.

Disruption for passengers

Passengers are facing another day of widespread disruption.

"In the meantime, services are being diverted around the area. Trains are still running, but there are delays," a Railtrack spokeswoman said.

Virgin services between London and Scotland are being diverted via Manchester, adding about an hour to the journey.

Trains from Euston to Liverpool are terminating at Crewe, where passengers are being asked to take local services to Liverpool via Chester. People wanting to travel from Liverpool to London are also being advised to travel via Chester.

Investigation continues

Investigators from Railtrack and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are continuing to look into how an empty, four-carriage First North Western train was in the path of the 0635 BST London to Glasgow Central service.

The two likely explanations are signal failure or human error. The inquiry will examine a report that the First North Western train went through a red signal.

The Transport Minister, Helen Liddell, has demanded an urgent report from the HSE.

Virgin has praised its driver, Roy Eccles, 56, from north London, for saving the lives of passengers.

But in a statement, Mr Eccles said: "I'm not a hero, I just did my job...it was what any other driver would've done.

"I just wanted to protect my passengers and I'm glad that no-one was seriously injured."