Spate of Kidderminsters to Worcester rail delays after cable damage
Rail commuters through a West Midlands village are being plagued by a spate of delays caused by metal thieves and vandals – who have struck three times in just over two weeks.
About 300 metres of cable was cut overnight near Hartlebury on Sunday, leading to delays of around 25 minutes on services between Kidderminster and Worcester yesterday morning.
On Friday, trains were cancelled between Kidderminster and Worcester after the theft of cable, and on August 10 disruption was caused in a similar incident.
Another attack, in May, caused rush-hour havoc for hundreds of passengers after copper cabling to the signals was cut in Hartlebury.
Network Rail and British Transport Police are investigating and trying to clamp down on the attacks that keep disrupting services.
Engineers from Network Rail were again on site yesterday carrying out repairs throughout the morning.
Trains were able to pass through the area but there were delays of up to 25 minutes through the affected stretch as they had to travel at a reduced speed.
It is believed that the cabling had been cut and removed from the line but was later found nearby.
Network Rail spokesman Russell Spink said: "We are working closely with British Transport Police and will continue to do all we can to reduce cable theft on the railway.
"Our efforts over the last few years have seen a marked drop in both the number of cable thefts incidents and delays to passengers.
"The value of the cable is immaterial – the cost to the industry and to passengers comes through delays to trains and the compensation we have to pay operators as a result."
London Midland spokesman Francis Thomas said: "In the latest incident – the third of its kind in the last two weeks on the Kidderminster to Worcester line – 300 metres of cable has been cut, affecting the signalling.
"We are concerned for our customers, who expect a reliable service but, due to vandalism or theft, they are not getting the service they have a right to expect."
On Friday, when cables were stolen from the railway line near Hartlebury, trains were cancelled between Kidderminster and Worcester Foregate Street, with a replacement bus service running from 7am.
In May, services along the stretch were halted completely for around four hours and, even after they resumed, some services were still suspended as just one train at a time was able to pass through while repair work continued.
