RAIL users travelling to and from Alton faced chaos on Monday after a train derailment temporarily ended all services during the evening rush hour.
The train derailed just beyond the carriage sheds at Farnham station at around 3 pm. There were no passengers on board but electricity had to be turned off to repair it and services were suspended until around 8 pm as a result.
A bus service was provided to take people to Aldershot, Farnham and Alton and normal rail service did not resume until the evening.
South West Train spokesman Keith Hawkins said: ÒThe train was travelling at a very slow speed of just four or five miles an hour. The wheels, basically toppled off the track. It wasnÕt in passenger service, but it disrupted other services. A full investigation will be launched and I apologise to those inconvenienced.Ó
This is the second time that passengers have been inconvenienced by a derailed train at Farnham station in the last four months.
In February, another train which was empty and out of service, derailed just before the carriage sheds in the depot at Farnham station.
Since 1985, a single track has operated between Farnham and Alton, apart from the 12-coach loop at Bentley.
The Alton Rail UsersÕ Association is pressing for the reopening of the double track which it believes would ease many of the problems.
However, Mr Hawkins said that the single track had no bearing on either incident.