Commuters 'kick down gates' at station amid huge rail chaos

Angry rail commuters have been spotted ‘kicking the station gates’ after signalling problems caused huge delays.

The East Midlands and Thameslink trains experienced huge rush hour delays as a result of a six-mile signalling failure at Luton.

The delays are the latest issue to affect the troubled lines, after a new timetable caused widespread disruption.

But while Network Rail apologised for the delays, witnesses reported huge swathes of anger among passenger.

Posting on Twitter, commuter Peter Saunders described dramatic scenes at St Albans City station, where angry passengers were reportedly kicking down gates amid overcrowding.

He added: ‘All gates [were] then locked and people diverted to [the] platform one entrance,” he said.

‘One guy tried to climb over then started kicking [the] gate as [a] staff member yelled at him.’

Emily Perry, who travelled from Bedford to London, told the BBC: ‘It is utterly ridiculous with all the train delays that Thameslink are satisfied with cramming more people in and putting their safety at risk that we are paying the privilege for!

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‘This has to stop and common sense has to be given.’

Commuter Vicky Chadwick added: ‘This situation is impacting lives. Our time with our families is being impacted and I’m seriously considering whether I can continue working in London.’

Network Rail has now confirmed that the signalling problem is fixed.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: ‘There have been extra patrols in place to give passengers reassurance. We have not attended any incidents.”