Rail misery for commuters . . .

Courier reader Graham Tomlinson sent in this picture of engineering works at the Dryclough Junction which caused delays from Halifax Train Station.

Engineering works meant that there were replacement bus services in place across the Caldervale Line.

Passengers at Halifax Station have faced disruption since last weekend due to the replacement of the track at Dryclough Junction, near Salterhebble. This meant no trains could travel westbound from Halifax.

Courier reader Graham Tomlinson said: “I went to have a look on Sunday to see how things were going on only to find that the original track was still in place on the junction.

“I asked one of the subcontractors who were working on the job and were still on site what had gone wrong and he told me that due to technical problems they could not go ahead.

“I then asked him if a new date had been set and he replied it could be 12 months as their programme for the year was full.”

Commuters argued that they hadn’t been given enough notice about the engineering works on the line but Northern Rail chiefs said that posters were displayed in the station for a month before the work began.

A Northern Rail spokeswoman comments: “Information on all forthcoming engineering work is available directly from our website (northernrail.org/travel/engineering).

“It was also displayed on posters at any station affected up to four weeks in advance of the works.”