DISRUPTION is continuing on the southern end of the Midland Main Line, after 1km of overhead wires collapsed at Radlett yesterday.

All services through the area were cancelled, with special timetables applying north of Luton Airport Parkway and buses introduced in a bid to carry thousands of commuters from alternative stations, which included the Underground Northern Line terminus at Edgware.

First Capital Connect and East Midlands Trains were able to run some services from early this morning, after two of the four lines through Radlett were restored.

All four lines had been reopened to traffic by 10.00, but Network Rail said electric trains are unlikely to be allowed back on the fast lines before tomorrow (Friday), which meant that First Capital Connect was forced to run a reduced service using the slow lines only.

One East Midlands Trains service from Sheffield was reported 112mins late at Luton early this morning, but EMT has since been able to restore a full timetable.

First Capital Connect apologised to its passengers, and 'strongly advised' them to use alternative routes where possible.

The cause of the overhead line collapse is not yet known. Network Rail said an investigation had been launched at the site, but declined to comment on RMT claims that the failure had been caused by maintenance cutbacks.