Major travel disruption on UK rail network after cracks found on high-speed trains

8 May 2021, 09:52 | Updated: 9 May 2021, 09:52

Trains used by Great Western Railway are among those reportedly affected by the cracks
Trains used by Great Western Railway are among those reportedly affected by the cracks. Picture: PA
Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

Dozens of rail services across the UK have been cancelled or delayed after cracks were found on trains used by a number of railway companies.

Passengers across Britain have been affected after a number of high-speed trains had to be taken out of service as a "precautionary measure".

Rail disruption is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

The Rail Delivery Group said some Great Western Railway (GWR), Hull Trains, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) and TransPennine Express (TPE) trains of the Hitachi 800 model had been halted for safety checks.

National Rail tweeted: "Once trains have been checked, they will be released back into service as soon as possible. Please check before travel."

Both GWR and LNER advised customers not to travel, while Hull Trains asked passengers to check before doing so.

TPE advised customers not to use the Newcastle to Liverpool route on Saturday.

It comes after cracks were found on "more than one" Hitachi 800 train, GWR later confirmed.

A spokesperson for the rail company said a crack was spotted in multiple trains which they operate, so all 93 Hitachi 800s in their fleet are now being inspected as a "precaution".

The spokesperson said: "There's a crack that's been spotted and as a result of that - as a precaution - we're checking all the trains, and while that's taking place it's better that they're not used.

"It's been found in more than one train, but we don't know exactly how many trains because the fleet is still being inspected."

The spokesperson added that the issue is affecting long-distance journeys between cities, but that suburban and rural GWR services are still running as normal.

Hitachi Rail has apologised for the disruption caused.

A spokesman said: "We are working with all partners to resolve this issue as quickly and safely as possible. We would like to offer our sincerest apologies to passengers for the impact this may be causing for their travel plans."

National Rail Enquiries tweeted: "Once trains have been checked, they will be released back into service as soon as possible."

Services in and out of London Paddington have been suspended while all of GWR's inter-city trains are being checked as a precaution.

In a statement on its website, GWR said: "A number of Class 800 series Hitachi trains from several train companies have been taken out of service this morning for checks as a precautionary measure.

"As a result we have had to cancel a significant number of long distance train services to and from Paddington, and while local services are running, we expect them to be very busy.

"This problem is being investigated by Hitachi and once trains have been checked and cleared, we hope to be able to release them back into service as soon as possible.

"Customers are advised not to travel. Refunds will be provided."

Hull Trains said a number of Class 800 series Hitachi trains from several train companies had been taken out of service for checks "as a precautionary measure".

"This problem is being investigated by Hitachi and once trains have been checked, we hope to be able to release them back into service as soon as possible," it tweeted.

"This could affect a significant number of our services and passengers should check before they travel."

The firm later said their services are back running as normal following thorough checks by Hitachi on its fleet of Class 800 series trains.

In a tweet, LNER said: "A number of Class 800 series Hitachi trains from several train companies have been taken out of service today for checks as a precautionary measure.

"This is being investigated by Hitachi and once trains have been checked, we hope to be able to release them back into service ASAP."

TPE said its Nova 1 trains had been affected by the issue and were being checked.

In a statement, a TPE spokesman said: "This problem is being investigated by the train manufacturer and once trains have been checked, we hope to be able to release them back into service as soon as possible.

"This will affect a significant number of services on our Newcastle to Liverpool route and we are advising customers not to travel on this route today."

Rail union RMT's general secretary Mick Lynch said: "RMT is fully aware of the issues that have led to the cancellation of services on LNER today and that similar problems with cracks appearing in the fleet on Great Western are also emerging.

"Hitachi needs to ensure the highest safety standards and properly investigate and rectify the issues.

"This situation demonstrates once again that it is reckless for the rail companies and the Department for Transport to move the industry to diluted, risk-based maintenance regimes which extends maintenance cycles on rolling stock or on the infrastructure, whether that be on the mainline railway or on the tube and metro services, to cut costs and strip out staff.

"The railway needs to be maintained rigorously and to the highest possible standards to protect the travelling public and the staff and that will remain RMT's key demand."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The Thames Water crisis has deepened

Thames Water crisis deepens as shareholders refuse to give £500 million cash injection

File photos of snow in the UK

Storm Nelson batters Britain as torrential downpours and 70mph winds hit ahead of ‘white Easter’

Rescuers searching through rubble

Paramedics among 16 people killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon

Hairdressers in Paris

French legislators ponder law to ban discrimination based on a person’s hair

HMP Bedford

Undercover reporter hired to work in jail with no vetting 'shocked by lack of security and open drug-taking'

Australian products in Shanghai

China ends tariffs on Australian wine as relations between countries thaw

Police are hunting for the knifeman behind the Beckenham attack

Lawless London: Manhunt continues for knifeman who stabbed train passenger - as two more injured in Tube station attack

Exclusive
The first gay couple to marry in the UK has expressed "outrage" at the Rwanda Bill

First gay couple to marry in UK ten years ago say government should do more to protect LGBTQ+ asylum seekers

Soldiers in giant fuel tank

US military drains giant wartime fuel tanks which had poisoned water supply

Paul O'Grady and his husband Andre Portasio

Paul O'Grady's husband opens up on TV star's final day and fight to save him as beloved dog nuzzled his neck

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried facing decades in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Brits travelling to the EU will need to have their fingerprints taken

'UK not ready and won't be' for new EU passport checks at borders, warns head of trade body

Aiden Minnis (left) and Ben Stimson (right) joined the Russian military

British traitor fighting for Russia in Ukraine says he is 'prepared to die' for Putin after family 'disowns him'

Austria Navalny

Portraits of Alexei Navalny unveiled next to Soviet soldier monument in Vienna

Hawaii Wildfire

Hawaii fire survivors moving into housing but 3,000 still in hotels

King Charles recorded the Easter message earlier this month.

King Charles stresses ‘importance of friendship in times of need’ in Easter message as royals face double cancer battle