RAIL travellers are now able to continue their journeys after signalling problems at Darlington were resolved.

However, Network Rail has warned that "residual delays" will occur.

The issue, which began on Tuesday afternoon, affected trains run by CrossCountry, First TransPennine Express, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains East Coast.

National Rail said in a statement: "A signalling problem at Darlington as now been fixed and trains are now able to run through the station.

"Delays of up to 90 minutes to journeys are expected as train crew and sets are out of place. Disruption is expected to continue until end of service." 

Services were either being cancelled or delayed.

The Northern Echo:

Passengers are asked to leave the train at Northallerton Picture: Nigel Burton

Dorothy Harris from Newcastle was upset after her train stopped at Northallerton. She said:"It's chaos. They wouldn't let us off the train because it doesn't normally stop at Northallerton. I told them I could get off where I bloody well pleased. "

The Northern Echo:

Rail staff hand out compensation forms at Northallerton station. Pictures: Nigel Burton

The Northern Echo's head of news, Nigel Burton was also on the train that stopped at Northallerton. He tweeted: "Train delays on East Coast mainline. Nothing going North. Passengers told next train may be several hours." 

Newsreader Anna Harding was stuck at York as the problem worsened.

She tweeted: "Platforms at York rammed with people hoping to get on a train, to be kicked off when they're cancelled last minute."

The Northern Echo:

Anna Harding's picture of commuters at York

The disruption comes just a couple of weeks after cable thieves caused similar problems on the East Coast mainline. A theft of cable near Darlington meant trains could not run through the town causing major issues from York to Newcastle.

Elsewhere in the country, trains between the East Midlands and London were severely delayed after a rodent chewed through cabling.

Disruption between stations in Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and London lasted more than 12 hours with trains delayed from the start of service until 7pm on Monday.

The chewing rodent shut down signals between Wigston and Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "We apologise for the significant disruption to journeys yesterday which was caused by damage to a trackside cable.

"The cable, which had been damaged by a rodent, was located just north of Kilby Bridge, and lead to a loss of power to signals between Wigston North Junction and Market Harborough station, just after 4.45am, causing all trains to stop.

"Although power was successfully restored just after 11.15am, trains and crews were out of position and it took until the evening rush hour for timetabled service to be resumed fully."