SOARING temperatures forced rail bosses to stop passengers getting off their trains outside the Olympic Stadium.

While Colchester basked in 32 degree celsius temperatures, rail services were ordered not to stop at stations, including the Olympic Park stop at Stratford.

The effect of the heat on ageing cables meant trains had to slow down to 60mph on the 90mph London to Norwich line during the hottest part of the day.

To make up for lost time, drivers were told not to stop at stations between Colchester and London, including Stratford.

Commuter Brian Caffey, 49, of Brightlingsea Road, Thorrington, said: “This could only happen in this country.

“It’s not a good sign for the Olympics. One sign of weird weather and the trains go to pot.”

Weatherman Tom Defty warned trains could be affected on the first day of the Games, when thousands would be heading to the capital.

Mr Defty, of the Essex Weather Centre, said: “It will be getting hotter - about 31 degrees – so I don't know what they are going to do then.

“In Europe and America 30 degree temperatures are normal and their transport copes well.

“I’m worried what it will be like for the opening ceremony on Friday. People from other countries will laugh at us if we can’t get trains to stop at the station where the ceremony is.”

Intercity trains between Norwich and Liverpool Street missed all stops after Colchester from noon on Tuesday, while Liverpool Street to Colchester Town trains skipped Romford. Nine trains scheduled to stop at Stratford failed to do so, including afternoon services from Witham and Harwich International.

Rail operator Greater Anglia and Network Rail both admitted there might be problems during the Games. However, a Network Rail spokesman insisted most trains stopped at every intended destination.

He said: “There are 40 trains an hour to Stratford on the East lines and we missed nine all day.

“We don’t know what the weather will be like, but we have sensors measuring all along the tracks. If they do get too hot, we will take the same simple measures.”