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Two arrested after cable thefts cause travel disruption

PA Media Passengers walking past a Thameslink trainPA Media
Thameslink trains were disrupted from Monday night for several hours

Police investigating the thefts of cables along a railway line, which caused major travel disruption, have made two arrests.

Thameslink said the thefts took place close to Harlington, between Leagrave and Flitwick in Bedfordshire, at about 21:15 GMT on Monday night.

The signalling systems were restored by Network Rail in the early hours and services were "getting back to our planned timetable", it said.

Trains on the Bedford to Brighton line were impacted.

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The two men being questioned were aged 26 and 22, British Transport Police said.

"Repair works have been carried out, involving temporary equipment being installed to safely bypass the damage and restore the functions of the signalling system," a Thameslink spokesman said.

"This task has now been concluded and we have worked overnight to get trains and crews back to the correct places by the morning peak hours."

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