Delays and disruption to train services continued today as rail staff struggled to cope with the aftermath of yesterday's storms.

The situation was described as a "complete disaster" by Andi Jones, of First Great Eastern, with massive disruption caused while commuters tried to get to work.

Many services did not run at all yesterday and today workers were trying to clear debris and restore power to overhead lines across north Essex.

Cancellations and delays of up to an hour led to rush hour chaos and rail staff feared the delays would continue.

Bus services had to be set up to run from Clacton to Colchester after a power failure at Clacton meant all train services were cancelled and buses from Stansted and Braintree were called in to cope with demand.

And commuters arriving at Colchester's North Station were told to expect long delays as rail workers tried to clear debris from the lines and restore power to overhead cables.

Anglia services from Norwich to Colchester were severely affected by problems in Colchester and just three out of a usual 12 services arrived at Colchester this morning.

A spokeswoman for First Great Eastern at the station said staff there expected the delays to continue throughout the day and by 9.15 this morning trains were running an average of 40 minutes behind schedule.

The spokeswoman said travellers had been particularly patient about the delays, adding many had come prepared to wait.

A train had to be evacuated of its passengers after power lines came down near Thorpe le Soken at about 10am yesterday.

Published Monday October 28, 2002

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