Birmingham New Street: All trains cancelled for rest of the day

Passengers are waiting on platforms with no instructions (Picture: Helen Stuart)

A train station which serves millions of passengers each year is suffering severe two-hour delays and a flurry of cancellations.

Damage to an overhead wire has prompted Birmingham New Street Station to cancel some services,affecting multiple rail companies.

Routes to Coventry,Walsall,Wolverhampton and Rugeley are facing severe delays,cancellations and diversions.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: ‘At 1.40pm damaged overhead power lines were reported on the approach to Birmingham New Street station near to Curzon Street. The damage is affecting some train services in and out of the station. Teams are on site to assess the damage and plan the repairs.

‘There will likely be some disruption throughout the rest of today. Passengers should check before they travel,allow extra time,and be prepared for some journeys to be disrupted at short notice.’

Passenger Daisy Griffiths told Metro she left Manchester Piccadilly,heading towards Wales,around noon.

‘All went smoothly until Birmingham New Street. We arrived here at about 1.40 pm and have been here ever since. We are blocked in by two trains. One in the front and one in the back of us.

‘These trains have both been evacuated,but we are essentially stuck with little to no service or Wifi to contact anyone or make arrangements.’

Ms Griffiths said she missed her connection to her home in Caldicot and missed out on a potential lift due to the delay.

‘The train manager keeps making announcements every 15 minutes,but with no new information,’ she said.

‘It’s just so disappointing. My ticket is also non-refundable,which is just adding to the frustration.’