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Stevenage trains disruption continues after power line damage

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Emergency services vehicles on a bridge over the railway line in StevenageKate Bradbrook/BBC
Police were called to the Broadhall Way bridge on Tuesday following "concerns for the welfare of a man"

Disruption to rail services was expected to continue after overhead power lines in Hertfordshire were damaged, train operators said.

It is understood a man was injured after dangling an object from a bridge in Stevenage that hit the electric cables at about 16:40 BST on Tuesday.

He was taken by air ambulance to hospital in Cambridge, police said.

Some services through Stevenage were operating, but some lines would remain closed until Saturday.

Hertfordshire Police said they were called to Broadhall Way "following concerns for the welfare of a man who had injured himself whilst on a bridge crossing over a main railway line".

The force said the man continued to receive medical treatment.

No-one else was injured and there were no arrests, the force added.

Railway engineers consider damage to tracks and lines at Stevenage station
Railway engineers assessed the damage to tracks and lines to the south of Stevenage railway station
Overhead power lines have been damaged following an incident on the railway, say Network Rail
After the incident on Tuesday, no trains were running through Stevenage

Stevenage railway station is on the mainline between London and Edinburgh, with services connecting to Cambridge and East Anglia via the next stop north - at Hitchin.

London North Eastern Railway, which runs mainline services from the capital to the north of England and to Scotland, said "Disruption caused by damage to overhead electric wires at Stevenage has now ended.

"Services are no longer affected by this problem."

However, Thameslink and Great Northern said repair works to some of the lines will take place on Saturday night into Sunday morning.

They said rail replacement buses would run between Hertford North and Stevenage stations.

Services for Cambridge would not call at Knebworth, and advised passengers to check for an alternative route. Southbound trains would stop at Knebworth.

Some services would be cancelled entirely and they advised passengers to check the National Rail Enquiries website throughout the day.

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Damaged overhead power line across Stevenage railway
Mainline services had resumed on Wednesday, but Thameslink and Great Northern said bus replacement services would run on the branch line Hertford North and Stevenage
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