Rats have been blamed for Easter Monday train delays, while revellers blasted Arriva Trains’ lack of preparation for the ‘Beer Express’ on Sunday.
There was chaos for hundreds of revellers who flocked to Shrewsbury on the train, affectionately known as the ‘Beer Express’, for a Sunday session.
The 1pm and 3pm trains from Newtown via Welshpool were packed to the rafters with groups heading to the Shrewsbury pubs.
Most were planning on catching the last train home at 9.30pm, but were shocked to be told en route it would not be running and had been replaced by buses. With more than 600 people squeezed onto the two afternoon trains, many didn’t take the risk and packed the earlier 7.30pm train home instead.
Bizarrely, despite warning, Arriva Trains put on only two carriages for the journeys on what is known as their busiest route of the year. Revellers made their anger known on line with pictures showing passengers standing on seats to find space.
Meanwhile, Monday’s disruptions have been blamed on rats gnawing the cables after signal technicians discovered the damage and engineers were called in.
A spokesman for the firm said: “Signalling technicians found that rats gnawed through cabling in the Welshpool area.
“Unfortunately trains were not able to operate between Welshpool and Shrewsbury until the cable was replaced.”