A BROKEN rail caused "chaos" for commuters and rail passengers on the trains in and around Shipley and Bradford this morning. 

Services are now returning to normal, but the incident caused around two hours of delays and cancellations. 

A spokesman for Network Rail said engineers had now fixed the problem, and apologised for the disruption, which had been expected to last until at least midday. 

He said: "Network Rail engineers were notified of a broken rail early following a track circuit failure this morning."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Above: A picture of the broken rail, posted on twitter by Northern Rail

Bus services had been in operation between Bradford Forster Square and Shipley and Ilkley, and buses are continuing to supplement the trains between Forster Square and Guiseley. 

Passengers able to get to Bradford Interchange are able to use tickets bought for affected routes from there on services to Leeds.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Above: Passengers waiting at Bradford Forster Square this morning

 

One angry commuter contacted the Telegraph & Argus at 7.45am to say he had been waiting almost an hour at Shipley station for a train to Leeds. 

"The signals have failed and there are no trains moving anywhere," he said. 

"There are hundreds of people waiting here, with no announcements, no coaches. 

"It's chaos."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Above: Network Rail workers at Shipley station this morning

Another passenger, trying to travel from Horsforth to Keighley, said she had been told by staff at Leeds station to travel to Bradford Interchange and walk to Forster Square, where it was "guaranteed" trains would be running. 

"People are trying their best to be helpful, but I don't think they have the information," she said. 

"We just need to know what's happening so we can make adjustments. I set off more than two hours ago and I'm already late for work."

The lines re-opened just after 9.30am, with trains departing Forster Square for Leeds and Skipton, although speed restrictions remain in place and passengers have been warned they may still face delays. 

Tim Calow, chairman of Aire Valley Rail Users Group, said: “I understand the problem was a broken rail at Shipley’s Dockfield junction on the way out to Leeds at about 7am.

“It happened at a particularly bad time when there was no chance of getting buses to carry the thousands of commuters heading into Leeds.

“It was done as an urgent repair, as it had to be, and things were moving again by 8.15am.”

Football fan and Bradford Beer Festival volunteer Bill Arnold of Baildon had just set off down south to watch Brighton play Leeds and said it was chaos at Shipley.

“There were commuters everywhere who couldn’t get to work.

“Luckily I’d allowed loads of time to get to the night match and managed to catch my Brighton train.”