Major delays hit key commuter routes into Moorgate and Waterloo

Commuters endured more train travel misery today with major delays on busy routes.

No trains were able to run in and out of Moorgate station in London due to a lineside fire in north London.

There were also delays in and out of another major London terminus - Waterloo - due to a signalling problem at Clapham Junction in south London.

Another signalling problem, at Wandsworth Common in south-west London, led to delays to services through Balham station in south-east London, while illness to a passenger resulted in delays to services between Shenfield in Essex and London's Liverpool Street station.

Outside the capital, there were hold-ups of up to 90 minutes to trains through Worcester Shrub Hill in the West Midlands due to a signalling problem.

Further signalling problems caused delays to services between Havant in Hampshire and Chichester in West Sussex, between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton and between Yeovil Junction and Salisbury in the West Country.

Meanwhile, a dispute about the checking of empty trains involving transport unions Aslef and the RMT continues to disrupt services on the Tube's Bakerloo line, with a knock-on effect on trains on London Overground.

Passengers have repeatedly been told the delays are due to "operational issues" - a description that has angered the RMT.

The union's general secretary Bob Crow said today: "Transport for London have resorted to the most blatant misinformation to try and keep this dispute about passenger and staff safety out of the spotlight rather than using their time to get around the table with the unions to resolve the issue."

PA