Thousands of rail passengers were caught up in chaotic scenes at Birmingham New Street station as the storm-ravaged rail network struggled to resume normal service.
 People were packed in to the concourse area as station authorities prevented them waiting on platforms because of safety fears. Escalators were also switched off because of fears people would be crushed. Many routes were open but trains and crews had been left in the wrong location following the complete suspension of much of the Midlands timetable on Sunday. Delays were also caused as train drivers were forced to go more slowly because of leaves on the line. During last night's rush hour, the station's plasma timetable screens failed and passengers had to be updated on train times and platform numbers by station staff. Chiltern Trains' services between Birmingham Snow Hill and London Marylebone were suspended for a second day due to track circuit failure between High Wycombe and London. This meant many more passengers travelling across the city centre to catch a train from New Street, only to be confronted with large crowds already there. British Transport police were forced to intervene when a huge swathe of passengers attempted to board a train to Southampton, which had been delayed for four hours. A spokesman said officers advised a woman, who was six months pregnant, not to travel on the packed train because they feared for her safety. Last night, a Railtrack spokeswoman said: "It was a difficult day at New Street. It was very, very congested. "It was all down to the knock-on effects of Sunday's storms. "People turned up with their tickets from the previous day on top of those who would normally have been travelling. "It was also half-term and Chiltern trains from Snow Hill to London were still suspended so those passengers had to travel from New Street as well." She added station staff kept passengers away from platforms because of fears people might have been forced on to the tracks because of the congestion. Ged Burgess, spokesman for Central Trains, said the day had been full of problems. "New Street was severely congested," he said. "We were running trains but because there was so much running stock sitting at New Street without crews, everything was severely delayed." He said the situation might improve this morning but advised passengers to check with National Rail Enquiries before setting off. Thousands of homes across the region were still without power last night. **National Rail Enquiries can be contacted on 08457 484950 or at www.nationalrail.co.uk | 
