A SUSPECTED fire beside the rail track is causing severe delays for First Capital Connect passengers this morning (Thursday). Although the service has started to overcome the failures caused by the freezing weather, an incident broke out in central London

A SUSPECTED fire beside the rail track is causing severe delays for First Capital Connect passengers this morning (Thursday).

Although the service has started to overcome the failures caused by the freezing weather, an incident broke out in central London at around 9am which has left commuters stuck on trains for over an hour and many services cancelled.

Angry passengers have been posting messages about the problems on the page of a Facebook group called 'I hate First Capital Connect.'

Sean Wallis said: "Well I thought I was off to a good start this morning - for the first time in ages train pulls up right on time, I actually get a seat... GREAT! Then the driver says we are holding at the station until further notice. 12mins and counting... I knew it was too good to be true."

There have been severe delays on the line in recent months due to the bad weather and a drivers' dispute which - as revealed by the Herts Advertiser - has resulted in calls for the company to lose their franchise and a petition has been started.

A spokesperson for First Capital Connect said smoke had been reported around some cabling near City Thameslink and Network Rail engineers were currently on the scene working to fix the fault as soon as possible.

Until that time he said all southbound trains from St Albans, Harpenden and Radlett would terminate at St Pancras.

As reported in today's edition of the Herts Advertiser, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for commuters after 70 per cent of rail union Aslef members accepted a new pay deal and a revised compensation deal has been offered.

Depending on the weather, the FCC spokesperson said services should start to get back to normal next week.