Vandals caused delays to rush-hour trains after laying scaffolding poles on the tracks.
The 7.30pm First Great Eastern service from Southend Victoria hit the poles between Rayleigh and Wickford which, it is believed, damaged compressed air pipes under the train.
The driver carried on to Billericay where the train was taken out of service.
A First Great Eastern manager said a fitter from another train company, who happened to be on the damaged train, carried out some repair work to the train.
A spokeswoman for the rail firm could not confirm the damage caused to the train, but claimed the poles were put on the London-bound track deliberately.
She said: "We put this down to vandalism. This is out of order. We apologise to our customers who were delayed."
Published Wednesday, April 16, 2003
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