A FAULT with the signalling system between Shenfield and Colchester is expected to cause delays until 9pm.

The line has reopened but some services are expected to be cancelled or delayed by up to an hour.

It follows a day of disruption on the rails as temperatures hit 30 degrees from noon, meaning speed restrictions were in place on the Greater Anglia Norwich - London mainline, Liverpool Street - Southend Victoria line, Liverpool Street - Braintree lines and others.

The speed restrictions are there to protect the railway infrastructure and keep services running, but at a slower speed.

This helps to prevent rails from buckling when they get very hot, and to protect overhead lines, which may sag during very high temperatures.

The following services have been cancelled or amended: London to Norwich trains will run hourly from noon.

As a result: 12.00 London Liv St to Norwich – Cancelled

13.00 London Liv St to Norwich – Cancelled

14.00 London Liv St to Norwich – Cancelled

15.00 London Liv St to Norwich – Cancelled

16.00 London Liv St to Norwich – Cancelled

17.00 London Liv St to Norwich – Cancelled

17.50 London Liv St to Norwich – Cancelled

19.00 London Liv St to Norwich – Cancelled

Norwich to London

12.30 Norwich to London Liv St – Cancelled

13.30 Norwich to London Liv St – Cancelled

14.30 Norwich to London Liv St – Cancelled

15.30 Norwich to London Liv St – Cancelled

16.30 Norwich to London Liv St – Cancelled

17.30 Norwich to London Liv St – Cancelled

18.30 Norwich to London Liv St - Cancelled

London to Ipswich

17.18 London Liv St to Ipswich – Cancelled

18.18 London Liv St to Ipswich – Cancelled

Ipswich to London

15.52 Ipswich to London Liv St – Cancelled

18.49 Ipswich to London Liv St – Cancelled

19.52 Ipswich to London Liv St – Cancelled

Southend to London

10.50 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

11.50 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

12.10 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Terminates at Shenfield 12.50 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

13.10 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

13.50 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

14.10 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

16.10 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

17.25 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

18.20 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

19.10 Southend Victoria to London Liv St – Cancelled

London to Southend

12.13 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Cancelled

13.13 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Cancelled

14.13 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Cancelled

15.13 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Cancelled

15.35 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Formed of 4 coaches, not 8 17.15 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Formed of 8 coaches, not 12 17.25 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Cancelled

18.35 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Cancelled

19.35 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Cancelled

20.35 London Liv St to Southend Victoria – Cancelled

London to Braintree

12.48 London Liv St to Braintree – Starts at Ingatestone

13.48 London Liv St to Braintree – Starts at Ingatestone

14.48 London Liv St to Braintree – Formed of 8 coaches, not 12

15.48 London Liv St to Braintree – Cancelled

17.20 London Liv St to Braintree – Starts at Witham

18.00 London Liv St to Braintree – Starts at Witham

Braintree to London

16.00 Braintree to London Liv St – Formed of 8 coaches, not 12

17.00 Braintree to London Liv St – Terminates at Witham

18.33 Braintree to London Liv St – Terminates at Witham

19.25 Braintree to London Liv St – Cancelled

Southminster services

17.22 London Liv St to Southminster – Cancelled

18.36 Southminster to Shenfield – Cancelled

Witham services

16.17 London Liv St to Witham – Cancelled.

18.16 Witham to London Liv St – Cancelled

Clacton services

17.32 London Liv St to Clacton On Sea – Starts at Colchester

A Greater Anglia spokesman said, "We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused by these heat-related speed restrictions and the amended timetable that we have to run as a result of the slower speeds."

Advance purchase ticket holders can travel on earlier or later trains if their booked service is cancelled.