c2c delays: Rush hour misery for Fenchurch Street commuters as power failure causes chaos

Frustrated: Commuters at Benfleet in Essex on Wednesday morning
Paul Miller
Tom Marshall9 March 2016

Commuters today faced a morning of rail misery after a power failure knocked out a key line into central London.

Passengers were left stranded after c2c trains from Essex to Fenchurch Street were cancelled or diverted to Upminster after an overhead powerline failure early on Wednesday.

Some commuters on an early service from Upminster to Fenchurch Street were even forced to disembark across the tracks after the power failure.

A witness said: "They were [disembarking] one-by-one through the driver's door, down a ladder to the tracks, then marshalled by a small army of TfL personnel and police."

Commuters were being warned to expect more cancellations or delays of up to 60 minutes on c2c trains throughout the morning.

Those who made it to Upminster faced further problems as severe delays were affecting the District line, which also had a power fault.

Passengers crammed onto the 6.47am from Benfleet to Fenchurch Street, which had to turn back to Upminster

Many took to social media to complain about their "nightmare" journeys.

One passenger said they were crammed in like "cattle" on the 6.47am to Fenchurch Street - which then had to turn back to Upminster due to the problems.

Another, Mike Jones, tweeted: "Total chaos at Upminster. Understand the power problems but just communicate please #c2c."

Dean Johns ‏said: "Absolute nightmare journey into work again thanks to @c2c_Rail."

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