TRAIN commuters suffered long delays after a point failure.

More than 20 services were brought to a standstill as passengers travelling between Blackburn and Colne were left stranded on their morning journey today.

A Network Rail spokesman said the fault happened near Rosegrove Station.

Some travellers waited for more than an hour as replacement buses were deployed to keep people moving.

Trains from Manchester to Blackburn ended their journey at Todmorden and there were no services running between Colne and Blackburn.

One frustrated commuter said it took him around an hour to get to from Accrington to Blackburn He said: “I get the 6.51am train from Accrington to Blackburn normally but it was cancelled.

“There was limited information on the departure board and the ticket office was closed.

“The next train was 35 minutes late.

“At one point there was a packed train to York sat at the station for at least 45 minutes.

“It couldn’t go any further and most people didn’t know what to do.

“There was also at least 30 people on the platforms with no idea what was going on.

“We were supposed to all use the bus replacement service but I didn’t see one for the hour I was there. It was pretty shambolic.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail engineers identified there had been a points failure at Rosegrove at around 7am.

“Staff arrived on site and the line was blocked while repairs were carried out.

“The line was reopened just before 10am and backlogged services resumed.

“During the time that the work was being carried out Colne to Blackpool South services started and terminated at Blackburn and services between Blackburn, Todmorden and Manchester Victoria ran an altered route.

“This was an isolated incident and it was not connected with engineering work going on at Rosegrove.”

A Northern Rail spokesman added: “We were very sorry for the delay this caused to people’s journeys.

“Rail replacement road transport was in operation between Colne and Blackburn.”