Network Rail said the failure had affected a wide area from Bristol and Bath to as far as Didcot.

BBC: Signal failure halts Swindon train services

The rail regulator's problems stem from the government's failure to reform the system after Railtrack was forced into liquidation.

ECONOMIST: Regulation: Irregular | The

Most of those who rail about Cochabamba do not also remind their listeners of the woeful failure of the city's previous public-sector water supplier.

ECONOMIST: Third-world water and the private sector

It said the problem - a failure in the train drivers' radios - was very unusual and that rail passengers travelling during rush hour on Tuesday should have a much better journey.

BBC: Air and rail delays for commuters

Rail passengers are still experiencing disruption and travel delays on the West Coast Main Line caused by a power failure.

BBC: West Coast Main Line: Virgin train passengers stranded

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said members were angry at what it described as First Group's failure to come up with a "serious pay offer".

BBC: First bus strikes start in Devon and Cornwall