Bridge repairs cause major train service delays

Train services are delayed between London and Edinburgh

Major disruption to train services is expected to continue until the end of the day after a bridge was damaged overnight.

The structure, located south of Chester-le-Street in County Durham, needed "urgent repairs", according to LNER.

It has led to cancellations across the network, with passengers travelling between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh facing delays of up to two hours throughout the day. LNER said delays have since been reduced to about an hour.

Overrunning engineering works between Newcastle and Morpeth and a points failure between Berwick and Dunbar also caused issues, although that has since been repaired.

"You can still travel, but we highly advise deferring your travel if you can," LNER said.

"Rail replacement coaches have been sourced to run between York, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle and Edinburgh," the operator - which is owned by the government - added.

Services between Doncaster and Leeds were also disrupted.

The delays affect all lines including CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and Lumo services.

The operators said rail replacement services had been put in place.

TransPennine Express said customers already at Edinburgh or Newcastle are "advised to travel via the West Coast Main Line where possible".