Wirral commuters stranded after rats attack train line
Nov 19 2009 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post
Merseyrail train _320
HUNDREDS of rail commuters were left stranded yesterday morning after rats chewed through power cables.
The problem on Wirral’s train lines became apparent just before 6am, according to Network Rail.
But work to replace the cables left people struggling to get to work during the busy early rush hour.
A spokesman for Network Rail blamed “rodent damage in two places to 650-volt track cables” for the delays.
He said the problem came to light at 5.55am and train journeys stopped until just after 10am, with services not returning to normal until 10.30am.
The power failure meant CCTV cameras at Hoylake and Leasowe were affected, while signals, points and associated equipment in the Meols area also failed.
A replacement bus service was put into operation for passengers between West Kirby and Birkenhead North.
The Network Rail spokesman said: “This is not an uncommon problem.
“It seems rats have a penchant for the rubber sheathing which surrounds the cables.
“But there is nothing we can do to stop it from happening.
“We apologise to commuters for the disruption to their journey.”
Merseyrail spokesman Rudi Boersma said train services were affected for just over four hours – but the problem only affected the West Kirby line, where the signals all turned to red.
He added: “I must admit, I have never heard of rats eating through power cables before.”
On Tuesday, Wirral rail services were disrupted after a man died on the line at Hoylake.
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