Hundreds of train passengers have been left stranded after an overhead power cable came crashing down. 

The country’s rail network was thrown into chaos on Sunday after an electricity line collapsed, completely wiping out all four lines on a 35-mile section of track between Grantham and Peterborough. 

It meant that trains operated by all five major rail companies in the UK were forced to cancel or delay services between London, northern England and Scotland.

Pictures posted on social media showed huge crowds of passengers packed onto platforms at Grantham station and Peterborough. 

Others were also seen in huge queues waiting up to three hours for buses and taxis outside train stations as they desperately tried to find some way of getting home before the end of the weekend. 

Hundreds of train passengers have been left stranded after an overhead power cable came crashing down. Pictured: Passengers at Grantham station

Pictures posted on social media showed huge crowds of passengers packed onto platforms at Grantham station and Peterborough (pictured)

Others were also seen in huge queues waiting up to three hours for buses and taxis outside train stations as they desperately tried to find a way of getting home 

Pessengers for services on London North East Railway, East Midlands Railway, Lumo, Grand Central and Hull Trains were all affected by the power outage. 

One woman cuaght up in the chaos in Grantham station said she didn’t even know where the queue for the bus ended. 

She said: ‘Pandemonium at #Grantham station where has dumped everyone travelling south. 

‘No crowd control, and more and more people spewing onto packed platforms. 

‘No advice on alternative routes so 3-hour queues for buses to P’boro. Nobody knows where the queue ends. Nobody can move.’

Another person stranded at the same station wrote: ‘For those of us with no choice, your arrangements have been disgraceful. 

‘No information at Grantham, chaos on the southbound platform. There are 2 buses , two! For hundreds of people.’

The power line collapse was said to be caused 

LNER managing director David Horne advised people on Sunday not to travel and to seek a refund for their tickets instead. 

He said: ‘Here’s why the East Coast main line is closed today between Peterborough and Grantham and our advice to customers is do not travel. 

‘The overhead line teams are working on all four lines repairing the damage caused by last night’s incident. 

‘We expect this to take several more hours due to the extent of the damage. Service disruption is expected to continue until the end of today.’

 The damage to the overhead lines is said to have been caused by Storm Elin on Saturday after strong winds caused a tree to collapse onto the wires

Overhead line teams working to repairing the damage caused by Storm Elin on Saturday

The incident completely wiped out all four lines on a 35-mile section of track between Grantham and Peterborough

LNER also said late on Sunday evening: ‘Customers are advised to check before they travel on Mon 11 Dec. 

‘Following repairs to damaged overhead lines between #Peterborough and #Grantham at the weekend, customers are urged to check for the latest service updates before making their journey.’

The damage to the overhead lines is said to have been caused by Storm Elin on Saturday after strong winds caused a tree to collapse onto the wires. 

It comes after Manchester Piccadilly was hit by serious disruption on Saturday after an overhead line ‘exploded’ during Storm Elin. 

Dramatic footage, sent in by a passenger who was on a train near Piccadilly station at around 5.40pm, showed huge flashes of light and sparks coming from overhead wires.

Shortly after the video was taken, railway bosses confirmed damage had been done to the overhead wires, with operator Northern issuing a ‘do not travel’ alert tonight due to ‘multiple weather-related incidents’.

Queues of travellers have been pictured at the station with boards showing delayed departures.