ALTON Station hit the regional news headlines on Monday after cold weather caught rail operators on the hop.

Passengers were left shivering on the platform as they waited in vain for early morning commuter trains.

According to Alton Line Users Association chairman, Chris Campbell, the first train out that morning, the 5.44 to London Waterloo, broke down between Alton and Bentley, blocking the single track and there it stayed, knocking out morning rush hour and off-peak services, until well into the afternoon.

At the root of the problem was a sudden and unexpected early morning plunge in temperature, causing ice on the conductor (third) rail, affecting the power to trains and preventing services from running normally.

In Alton's case, because of the single track working between Farnham and Alton, the track was closed.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.