Cable theft disrupts UK new year’s eve train services

Rail passengers across parts of England have been warned to expect delays and cancellations throughout New Year’s Eve after signalling cables were stolen in South Yorkshire.

National Rail said the theft occurred on the route between Doncaster and Sheffield and was first reported on Wednesday.

While disruption was initially expected to ease by mid-morning, officials later confirmed that problems were likely to continue until the end of the day.

Several operators have been affected, including Northern, whose local services in South Yorkshire, as well as trains running from Doncaster to Hull and Scarborough, have faced disruption.

Long-distance services have also been impacted. CrossCountry trains operating between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street, which call at Sheffield, Wakefield, Leeds and York, are among those affected.

TransPennine Express services running between Liverpool Lime Street and Cleethorpes, calling at Doncaster, have also been disrupted.

A Northern spokesperson said services between Doncaster and Swinton resumed from about 09:30 GMT, but warned that fewer trains would be able to operate while the issue persists. Trains between Sheffield and Doncaster or Adwick may also face delays or revised schedules.

To ease travel during the disruption, Northern said ticket restrictions had been lifted in affected areas, including advance and peak-time restrictions.
National Rail confirmed that trains are currently running at reduced speeds between Doncaster and Sheffield due to the damaged signalling system.

Passengers were advised that services may be cancelled, diverted or delayed by up to 25 minutes, with disruption expected to last until the end of the day.

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