A broken rail is causing disruption to train services this evening.

Network Rail engineers found the broken rail near Hendon station overnight, meaning trains were having to run at a significantly reduced speed on this section of the railway earlier this morning.

A temporary repair has allowed the speed of trains to increase, although this will still be a significantly lower speed than usual.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day, with Network Rail, East Midlands Railway and Govia Thameslink Railway urging passengers to check before travelling.

St Albans, Harpenden, Borehamwood, Radlett, Mill Hill, and Hendon commuters will all be affected.

Passengers should also allow additional time for their journeys. Ticket Acceptance and bus replacement services are in place for Thameslink customers.

Further work to allow trains to run at their normal speed will be carried out overnight.

Gary Walsh, Route Director for Network Rail’s East Midlands route, said: “We would like to apologise for the disruption that passengers using the Midland Main Line have experienced this morning. This is due to a broken rail near Hendon station.

“Safety is Network Rail’s priority and we are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and a full train service will only resume once it is safe to do so. We would like to remind all those due to travel on the route today to check before travelling and we would like to thank all those affected for their patience.”