PASSENGERS using Chiltern Railways trains between Oxfordshire and London Marylebone are being warned to expect continued disruption to services well into Monday.

A fire overnight burned away part of a signal cable in a tunnel just outside Marylebone station, putting all the signals on the approaches out of action and forcing Chiltern to turn trains round at West Ruislip all day today, with passengers using the London Underground to reach Central London. 

Network Rail engineers are working to replace the damaged cable and carry out safety tests but until they give the all-clear, only two trains per hour are expected to run each way between Birmingham, Banbury, Bicester North, Haddenham & Thame Parkway and West Ruislip, with passengers advised to use alternative routes.

Chiltern Railways tickets will be accepted on First Great Western and CrossCountry trains while problems persist.

Passengers from Banbury are advised to use these operators' services to travel to and from London Paddington station, changing at Oxford or Reading.

Advance tickets can be used within an hour of the booked time, but note that peak-hour ticket restrictions will still apply.

For the latest information, see Chiltern Railways' website.

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