Problems with the track and a reduced service caused long delays for tube journeys this weekend.

Chris Emery and his wife Linda were travelling from Bond Street to Chesham when he was delayed at Rickmansworth station on New Year's Eve.

A points failure at Chalfont and Latimer had resulted in cancellations of northbound trains from Rickmansworth.

In addition, a reduced timetable on the Metropolitan line meant the service was only leaving every 40 minutes.

Mr Emery said: “I changed at Finchley Road where a Chesham train was displayed as arriving in ten minutes. As a Watford train was arriving, I decided to catch this and change again at Moor Park station.”

At Moor Park the line splits with trains heading either to Watford or Chesham.

Mr Emery said: “There, we were dismayed to hear that due to a points failure, all northbound trains would be going to Watford.”

However, despite this, a train destined for Chesham arrived, stating it was due to terminate at Rickmansworth.

Mr Emery said: “We were then stuck at Rickmansworth station for 40 minutes at about 10.15am as all northbound trains were cancelled.

“Whilst waiting, we noticed that an A4 sheet had been stuck up in the waiting room giving the New Year Eve and New Year's Day revised timetable, which was that trains would run every 40 minutes to Amersham and to Chesham.

“This was the first indication we had seen that it was not a normal off-peak service. Nothing at Bond Street, Finchley Road, Moor Park or Chalfont & Latimer.

“Not even a notification on a rainbow board. Just a 'Good Service'. Similar notices were posted on the Rickmansworth southbound platform.

“Even the 'No surprises' Christmas leaflet was vague and downright misleading for New Year's Day, where it states "a reduced train service will operate between 0500 and 1100, every 15-50 minutes in the central area and every 30 minutes on the branches.”

The Watford Observer is waiting for a comment from Transport for London.