03/01/2008 03:02:28
Rail passengers are facing another day of severe disruption, as overrunning engineering works continue to affect some services.
London's Liverpool Street station fully reopened only after the rush hour this morning, while West Coast Mainline services around Rugby remain suspended today, with bus replacement services in operation.
In its latest statement, Network Rail has apologised to passengers and said it "understands how frustrating this situation is for everyone".
The disruption, which coincides with above-inflation rises in rail fares across the UK, has angered passenger groups.
Consumer watchdog Passenger Focus has pointed out Network Rail faces significant fines over the delays, and that rail operators are likely to receive significant sums of compensation.
"Very little of this compensation appears to reach passengers," wrote chief executive Antony Smith in a letter to the Office of Rail Regulation. "This is unfair, especially when journey times have been extended and buses substituted for parts of journeys. Compensation for operators does not benefit passengers."