Travel Alert: West Midlands rail network facing severe disruption

8:20am Update
Disruption is still affecting the network with long delays in prospect as services remain suspended.

Virgin is now saying that delays and cancellations apply to West Coast Main Line services between Carlisle and London Euston due to the ongoing overhead line problems at Birmingham International.

There is also disruption to Arriva Trains Wales services between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International for the same reason.

CrossCountry services between Coventry and Birmingham New Street remained suspended.

Earlier, CrossCountry, Virgin and London Midland services between Coventry and Birmingham New Street were all suspended.

Delays on the local network are said to be severe and passengers may be advised to seek alternative arrangements.

Services to Euston are also being affected because of a power cut at Hampton in Arden. Engineers are working to resolve the problems.

It is thought the problem at Birmingham International may have been caused by an object either being thrown or blown onto the overhead cables.