Conditions on overcrowded commuter trains stranded in the heatwave were today condemned as "hell on earth" by a mid-Essex rail watchdog

And the train company itself admitted it was an "absolute nightmare".

Today rail passengers faced cancellations caused by trains being in the wrong place, following major disruption yesterday - the hottest day of the year.

All services travelling out of London Liverpool Street to mid and north Essex after 4pm yesterday were delayed for more than an hour, affecting about 52,000 passengers.

Speed restrictions of 60mph were already in force because of fears that rails could buckle in the heat.

Then two of the four lines in east London were taken out of service because their overhead power lines were sagging due to heat, and a signal failure at Bow added yet more delays.

David Bigg, chairman of Witham and Braintree Rail Users' Association, today said because stock movements were held up by the delays, many peak-time services left in short formations of four carriages, rather than eight or 12.

Published Thursday, August 7, 2003

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