[yorkie]

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/4102486.stm

There were delays and cancellations on the Norwich to London Liverpool Street railway line on Friday morning after vandals cut through signal cables.

Train operator One said local services to Cambridge, Sheringham, Lowestoft, and Great Yarmouth were also affected.

The cables, between Norwich and Diss, were cut overnight and travellers have had half-hour delays.

Network Rail engineers were in the area but it was not known when the damaged cables would be repaired.

One spokesman Peter Meades said: "We are running services, but it means Network Rail have had to put in place some temporary signalling arrangements.

"This is not ideal because it means the trains won't be running at their normal speed and it also means we'll be thinning out the service in order just to keep trains moving."

He said passengers should be prepared for delays, particularly between Norwich, Diss and Stowmarket.

British Transport Police, who are investigating the vandalism, said the high voltage power lines were cut late on Thursday night or in the early hours of Friday at two separate locations in Newton Flotman.

[Coxster]

A simular thing happened at Barnt Green not all that long ago.

[Met Driver]

Naturally I am not best pleased about this, but signalling cables are too vulnerable to vandalism IMO. If a bit more money was invested in developing a more secure means of storing cables, this would not (or would at least be more unlikely) to happen. The current cable runs are far too exposed for my liking.

[jonb]

Well whilst I was at Upminster today all 357's heading towards Southend/Shoeburyness had Smashed windows

[Met Driver]

How on earth were they allowed to be kept in service?

[Simming]

Its Double Glazing, Ive often been on a train with a Smashed window, and at the first possible opitunity, they will oull the smashed glass off, then when its back at the depot, it will get replaced

[jonb]

In answer to SETT's question I believe there were vandals in the West Ham area shooting trains as they passed so c2c did'nt know and left them in service.

[Jamie]

Train windows are almost always double glazed, these days they are triple glazed (on most trains).

Even MK1's has a film placed over the windows so that the Glass wouldnt go everywhere, it would just shatter, but remain in place.

If you ever try smashing a window on a MK1 in, you'll need a sledgehammer, and body armour from the people who will attempt to kill you when they see you smashing their windows.