TRAINS between Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street have been delayed after overhead line problems at Rayleigh. 

All trains are terminating at Wickford due to the issue, say Greater Anglia, but c2c which runs the line between Fenchurch Street and Southend Central are accepting tickets. 

The first buses to run on the route will not be until 7pm. 

One commuter, Daryl Peagram, 43, a lawyer from Southend, said there were about 400 people who were in the ticket hall and on the platform at Wickford. 

He said: "Everything that has left Liverpool Street has to carry on until it gets here. Everyone is being dumped here. 

"We have just been informally told on the platform there are overhead wire problems. 

"There are hundreds of people outside. 

"Buses are expected at 7pm but they won't take everyone. There's gridlock in the car park - you can't get in or out."

Frustrated commuters took to Twitter to vent their anger.

Jay Hockey said: “Can't keep charging people thousands of pounds a year. Not fit for purpose. Disgraceful.”

Stuart Bines said: “Question for you Greater Anglia? Why are trains dumping people off at wickford and carrying on to Southend?”

Michelle Payne added: “Been using them almost a year. Seriously not one day where both trains on time properly!”

Greater Anglia have said disruption is expected until 2am. 

A spokesman for Network Rail said they first received reports of the problem at 5.10pm to overhead line damage close to Rayleigh Station.

He said: “We will have engineers on site tonight and they will carry out repairs with a view to running a normal service tomorrow.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we will look into the cause of the damage.”

A statement on the Greater Anglia website says: "Customers are advised train services between Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria are being affected in both directions. We have made arrangements for rail replacement buses to operate between Wickford and Southend Victoria in both directions however these buses are not expected to arrive at Wickford until 7pm.

"Customers are advised not to travel unless necessary and are advised to check our website https://www.journeycheck.com/GreaterAnglia and Twitter is available for real time updates (@GreaterAnglia) 

"Customers are advised Abellio Greater Anglia tickets are being accepted on C2C rail services from Southend Central, Upminster via Barking and West Ham to London Fenchurch Street. 

"Abellio Greater Anglia tickets are being accepted on London Underground reasonable routes between London Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street from Tower Hill, Aldgate and reasonable routes. 

"Central Line services run from Hainault and Newbury Park to Stratford and Liverpool Street, District Line services run from Upminster via Barking and West Ham to Aldgate East and Tower Hill, Hammersmith and City line services run from Barking and West Ham to Liverpool Street. 

"The Jubilee Line and the Docklands Light Railway run from West Ham to Stratford. 
Customers with advance purchase tickets are advised that restrictions have been lifted, and they may travel earlier or later today, than the time specified on their ticket. 

"There is no firm estimate yet of how long disruption will last but it is likely to continue until at least 2am.

"A good train service is operating on all other routes 

"We are sorry if your journey is affected by this problem. Network Rail Engineers are working as quickly as possible to resolve this problem and restore a normal train service. 

"We would like to make you aware of our delay repay policy which can be found on the Abellio Greater Anglia website: 
http://www.abelliogreateranglia.co.uk/about-us/our-performance/delay-repay"