Trains reintroduced after safety checks prompted by cracks

Trains taken out of service after cracks were found are to be reintroduced following "rigorous safety checks", the Rail Delivery Group says.

Some of the Hitachi Class 800 trains have cracks on the lifting plate, but as this is used for maintenance and not passenger journeys, regulators have agreed they are safe to return.

There has been disruption for passengers since Saturday

The rail minister warned travellers to expect disruption for "some time".

The Rail Delivery Group said Great Western Railway and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) will ramp up services.

Travellers are being advised to continue to check with their operator before they travel.

In a statement, the Rail Delivery Group said Hitachi Rail, train operators and the government have agreed a "service recovery plan" to reintroduce more Class 800 and 385 trains after they were taken out of service on Saturday.

But it said trains on some routes may be less frequent than usual and train availability could vary.

The industry has put in place "suitable criteria for the trains to meet before they can re-enter service", the Rail Delivery Group said.

Rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris said he welcomed the news that "many trains" can return following safety checks.

"Trains should begin to return to service after further inspections have been carried out, helping to safely restore the reliable and punctual services on GWR and LNER that passengers deserve," he said.

"Safety is our absolute focus, which is why Hitachi will carry out a comprehensive daily testing regime on affected trains."

He said the next step would be for Hitachi to present its long-term repair plan for the fleet, which he expects "shortly".

"Whilst this long-term fix can partly be incorporated into the regular service pattern for these trains, we do expect disruption to services for some time to come, but hope passengers understand this work is essential to ensure these issues do not occur again," Mr Heaton-Harris said.

Great Western Railway is still advising customers not to travel, saying disruption is "likely to continue for some time".

"We have had to cancel many of our long-distance services and expect disruption to journeys to continue for the next few days," it said on Thursday.

East Coast mainline company LNER said it was running a reduced timetable "which may change at short notice".

In Scotland, LNER is not running any trains between Edinburgh and Aberdeen or Inverness.

It said its tickets would be accepted with ScotRail and Transpennine Express until Friday.