AN investigation is underway after damage was caused to cables along a county stretch of railway line, with the resultant signalling issues causing major delays for commuters.

Vandals had reportedly attempted to steal cabling in the Bromsgrove area overnight on Monday, which impacted on trains between Hereford and Birmingham yesterday.

Network Rail and the British Transport Police launched an investigation into the damage caused to the line, which had reportedly led to a track fire.

A spokesman for the railway network manager said: “Cables, which are essential for the safe running of the railway, were damaged in the Bromsgrove area overnight on Monday.

“This affected trains on Tuesday and we are working to complete repairs as quickly as possible.

“The cause of the damage is unknown at this stage, but we are working with British Transport Police. Passengers should check with National Rail Enquiries for the latest information.”

A BTP spokesman said officers were called to the scene around 4am, following reports of cable burning, and officers are making enquiries to establish the cause of the cable burning and whether it was deliberate.

Cross City Line trains between Bromsgrove and Birmingham were cancelled on Tuesday due to the signalling issues which had a knock-on effect for longer-distance Hereford-Worcester-Bromsgrove-Birmingham.

This meant those commuting into Worcester saw services delayed or cancelled at short notice.

Where possible, trains that would normally start from Bromsgrove, started from Longbridge, however, some were cancelled. Road transport was arranged to run between Droitwich and Longbridge, calling at Bromsgrove and Barnt Green.

Trains between Redditch and Birmingham were running as normal.

A commuter who travels by train each day from his home in Bromsgrove to work in Worcester, said: “The trains are always bloody late at Bromsgrove.”

He got the 8.22am train, which was only delayed by 10 minutes due to the issues, and he wasn’t aware of a fire.

He went on to say: “People are getting frustrated with late trains. A lot of people were waiting at the front of Bromsgrove for alternative transport to Birmingham.

“We were told there was signalling problems for trains on to Birmingham, which they apologised for.”

He said around 40 people regularly get the train from Bromsgrove to Worcester each weekday morning and the carriages are usually overcrowded.

A passenger who commutes from Malvern to Worcester for work, also experienced delays, and said it was announced these were due to a fire in the Bromsgrove area.