Railwatch

With half-term ending and GNER running at only 80 per cent capacity, passengers can expect overcrowded trains at the end of the week.

And travellers were also warned they can expect disruption to services for weeks to come.

Last Friday saw trains pulling into York station from Scotland with no available seats and GNER spokesman Dave Mallender foresees a similar situation this week.

"Passengers should only travel if it is absolutely necessary," he told the Evening Press.

"We would advise people thinking of just having a day trip to London of postponing it for another time."

He added that things would not return to normal for "another six weeks".

GNER is running a revised service which "bears no resemblance" to the usual timetable - a mix of diversions lengthening journeys and diesel services only having to be used on certain routes.

Reports of abusive telephone calls have also been received and some train staff have received verbal abuse.

Mr Mallender said that many customers realised the seriousness of the situation and were being very patient but some have abused staff.

He added that "there was no appreciable rise in passenger numbers" as a result of travellers using the East Coast Main Line rather than the Glasgow-London route.

Evening Press employee Sky Ferrey was caught up in "chaos and pandemonium" yesterday when she attended her son's graduation in London.

"I have never seen it so busy," she said.

"It was absolute madness at King's Cross and people were forced to run to get on trains to get them back up north."

She added that she thought the GNER staff were handling the situation very well and "deserved praise".

About 85 per cent of GNER's daily services are running, but all trains are being diverted via Hertford and are subject to Railtrack speed restrictions which add about 60 minutes to journey times.

The GNER website warns: "Services will be much fuller than normal, particularly during the late afternoon and evening."

As train services fill up, travellers are seeking alternatives with coach companies reporting an increase in business.

A spokesman for National Express said passenger numbers were up and the company may put on extra coach services if required.

But a spokesman for AA Roadwatch said: "There has been no noticeable rise in traffic on the roads as a result of the train problems."

Police were today called to another train derailment.

Railtrack said four coaches were derailed but remained upright, and there were a small number of shock-related injuries in the incident near Virginia Water station in Surrey.