From the 26th July passengers are now being thanked for their patience.
Passengers are also being advised to check before they travel as services are returning to normal after Thursday's scorching weather.
Teams of Network Rail engineers worked through the night in order to repair damage at several locations which caused significant disruption to passengers as well as journeys when the temperatures rose in excess of 35°C across the country.
Also track temperatures soared, reaching up to 20°C higher than the air temperature.
The overhead power lines, that keep the electric trains moving, suffered at the hands of the extreme weather.
Network Rail worked with the train operators to keep as many passengers as possible moving safely across the North West and Central Region.
The excessive temperatures made many journeys impossible and those which did happen were often longer and much busier than normal.
What did the officials have to say?
Phil James, from Network Rail, said:
“I want to say sorry to passengers for the disruption and discomfort they faced making their journeys yesterday. The extreme temperatures made travelling by train very difficult at times and we thank passengers for their patience while we worked hard to get people moving again.
“With the railway being made of metal and moving parts, the sustained high temperatures took their toll in places.
“Everything was done to keep trains moving where possible and last night hundreds of staff were out fixing the damage and repairing the railway, ready for today.
“Trains are running again this morning but please, check before you travel for the latest information.”
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I read somewhere that the de-wiring allegedly at West Hampstead was in fact in Belsize tunnel, well protected from the worst of the sun’s heat. Network rail are always a little scant with detail when such incidents occur; yes, I accept that many passengers don’t know their up line from their down and could’nt be expected to, but more detail for those with an interest in what has happened would be welcome. Might be worth the TV companies training their ‘Transport correspondents’ in the basics of railway operation, too, as some of the information given is naive to the extreme!
Which is why Network Rail are replacing the overhead wires including on the Southend Victoria line in Essex as the new overhead wires are designed to taut and not sag than the old overhead wires do. Which were first installed in the 1950s.