28 February 2013 Last updated at 05:52 ET

Signal failure halts Swindon train services

A signal failure which halted train services in Swindon and trapped passengers on several services has been fixed.

Network Rail said the failure had affected a wide area from Bristol and Bath to as far as Didcot.

The firm said four trains trapped at Wootton Bassett, Hullavington, South Marston and near Kemble were due to start moving again.

Network Rail said signalling was fully restored at 09:30 GMT.

The company said the signal box at Swindon had blanked out and there was a loss of communications.

Engineers and operations staff investigated the failure, which was later diagnosed as a fault with a transformer.

A spokesman said: "This caused significant disruption to services on the Great Western Main Line between London, the Thames Valley, the west of England and south Wales.

"Engineers worked at a number of locations to rectify the fault and get trains moving as quickly as possible.

"We worked closely with First Great Western to divert or amend services where possible to keep as many people moving as possible, and other train operators also accepted tickets on alternative routes."