Rail bosses criticised as Peterborough travellers face more delays for rest of today after engineering works run over
Rail bosses have been criticised after weekend engineering works at Peterborough overran leading to cancellations of vital city services to the capital.
The unexpected extension of the engineering works has compounded issues for commuters with a number claiming that a major timetable change has resulted in a poorer service with few trains to the capital.
And Network Rail and LNER have today posted messages on social media urging passengers to check journey times before travelling.
It states: “We are currently on site attempting to resolve the issue.
"The current service plan will remain in place until the end of the day, please check your journey before you travel.”
Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes said: “It is deeply concerning that, with a month of weekend engineering works a had, things have gone wrong at the very first hurdle.
"No one doubts time is needed for engineering upgrades to take place but overrunning into a working day simply isn’t good enough.
"Today’s cancellations expose the ongoing problems Peterborough faces under the new timetable introduced in December. The overrunning works have effectively reduced the city to an hourly service to London, while causing knock-on disruptions elsewhere.
"I have raised the issue with LNER but what Peterborough needs now is a guarantee we won’t get more delays on future weekend works.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We’re sorry for the disruption. This has been caused by overnight engineering work between Stevenage and London King’s Cross overrunning because of a broken down tamping vehicle, which is used to maintain the line and level of the track.
“We would like to reassure passengers that we are working to resolve this issue. Resources have been secured for this work to take place this afternoon.
"Passengers are urged to check details of their journey before travelling via National Rail or their train operator.”
A spokesperson for trains operator LNER said: “The latest information is available on our website and socials.
There could be more problems ahead for Peterborough commuters with upcoming rail works affecting train journeys south of Peterborough towards London taking place at the end of the month.