HUNDREDS of rail passengers suffered as delays and cancellation followed a signals failure near Droitwich.

Services to and from both of Worcester's stations were running late or were cancelled in the wake of the equipment failure, which started shortly before 9am. Train services were affected going on into the afternoon.

Rail companies laid on coaches to help passengers reach their destinations.

Passengers at Worcester Foregate Street, speaking to the Worcester News, voiced their frustration.

Niall Hurst of Worcester said: "We're on our way to Rugby, and I think the trains are running about ten minutes late right now, but that could cause problems if we miss our connection at Birmingham New Street."

James Swindells of London, who was visiting relatives in the city, said: ""I was supposed to be going from Shrub Hill to London Paddington, but that train was cancelled.

"I was supposed to be in London for 3pm, but now I'll have to go via Birmingham New Street to Euston, so I don't know what time I'll get there.

Richard Walker of St John's had arrived at Birmingham International at 9am this morning after travelling back from Palma, Majorca and was on his way home.

He said: "They didn't even tell us about the delays. It has taken us longer to get from Birmingham to Worcester than it did to fly from Palma to Birmingham."

“We landed at 9am and it took us 3.5 hours and are still waiting outside Worcester. It is a nightmare. We don't use trains much we don't like them.

"At Birmingham we were first told to go to platform 11, then we were told 12 then 11. We were told to go to Longbridge and get a bus, but when we got there we were told we should have gone to Moor Street, but luckily we managed to get a bus.”

Harry Dunnett from Cradley said the problems became evident when his train arrived at Great Malvern.

He said: "It was evident from the moment the train driver said there was a signalling issue at Worcester that we were going to be in for a long wait.

"He had no idea then how long it was going to be and overhearing a member of staff speaking to unhappy passengers, I heard him say 'It could be anywhere between 10 minutes and two hours, at this moment we have no further information.'

"The wait for the passengers was a frustrating one, only kept manageable through the cool air-conditioned train and the option to buy drinks from Malvern station's coffee shop.

"One man said to the young lady "This is ridiculous! It’s always this train that seems to get delayed. I was on a train the other week on a 30-mile journey, which took over three hours!'

"Every train I’ve got on this week has been delayed by at least five minutes and it begs the question, will these recent issues with local train lines result in people looking to alternative ways of transport?"

Another commuter said: "I get the train every morning from Worcester to Stourbridge and am frequently faced with short delays at the Worcester stations, but today is a major setback on my journey to work. I’m having to find other alternatives at short notice."

West Midlands Railway's customer experience manager Richard Brooks was at Foregate Street, helping to co-ordinate transport for passengers.

He said: "We're doing the best we can to get people to where they want to be."