FCC delays after cable theft

FIRST Capital Connect (FCC) has apologised to passengers this morning after cable theft overnight severely disrupted Thameslink route services.

The train company’s website said the signalling system had been “knocked out” at Bedford station, and despite considerable efforts to repair it a large number of trains were trapped in the sidings.

FCC said: “Please accept our sincere apologies.”

However while some lines have now reopened, FCC warned services running across its entire network may be cancelled, delayed by up to 90 minutes or revised at short notice.

Some trains are now starting to be able to run through to Bedford, but it is a very limited service.

At one stage there were no services at all at Bedford station because of the cable theft, and just two trains an hour in each direction to and from Brighton.

The company explained: “We have been working round the clock to secure buses for Bedford and have some coming from as far afield as South Wales but many bus and coach companies are committed to supplying services for the Olympics.”

In its latest update (just after 9am), FCC said Uno and Arriva bus services are conveying passengers between Hatfield and St Albans.

Bedford passengers can travel north with East Midlands Trains (EMT) to Wellingborough and then return south into London.

They can also use their FCC tickets with London Midland from Bedford St John station or travel to the Great Northern route for services from there.

FCC tickets can be used with other transport providers such as Southern and South West trains.

FCC described the theft as a “deliberate act that has caused severe disruption to thousands of our customers this morning.

“We are doing everything we can to work around it and would like to apologise once again for the severe disruption this is causing you.”