EAST Lancashire commuters were left stranded and frustrated yesterday morning after a number of services were cancelled and delayed due to overrunning track repairs.

Work replacing track near Accrington meant early morning services through the area were unable to run.

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Network Rail were supposed to hand over the track between 5.45am and 6am but machinery issues meant that was delayed until around 10am.

Replacement buses were not available for those waiting at Accrington station at 6am.

Commuter Mark Thompson said: “There was no information at the station and no replacement to get me to Blackburn.

“I’m now going to miss my connection to London. It’s a shambles. They can apologise as much as they want but it’s not good enough for the prices we pay.”

A statement on the Northern Rail website said: “Northern Rail services between Blackburn and Accrington were disrupted due to overrunning engineering work.

“We would like to apologise to our customers for the delays this caused.”

Rail replacement buses operated between Blackburn and Colne for several hours and the timetable was only returned to normal much later yesterday.

Hundreds of passengers were waiting outside Blackburn railway station for replacement buses at around 9am.

Hamid Munshi, 25, from Blackburn, was travelling to his job with the Prince’s Trust in Burnley.

He said: “I came here as normal for the 8.29am train but it wasn’t running.

“I’m going to be at least an hour-and-a-half late for for work.

“We’re just stood out in the freeing cold waiting for buses of which there’s been very little sign.”

Network Rail are heading a track replacement project between Gannow Junction and Farington Junction.

A spokesman said: “The ongoing track replacement was delayed after a tamping machine broke down.

“The machine beds down the stone and surface under the rails so the work was delayed and the track was only ready at around 10am.

“We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to passengers.