Thousands of passengers stranded and no alternatives put in place.

Is it really too simplistic to question whether Network Rail and the TOCs can be more decisive when disruption such as that which hit the East Coast Main Line on Saturday occurs and long delays are sure to follow?

It’s not as though each signalling or points failure comes as a complete surprise to those running the railways. Such incidents, fortunately, are not all that common, but in this world of business continuity is it really so extreme a viewpoint to expect passengers to come first?

This weekend there are stories of thousands marooned at York station and others spending five hours stuck on trains without food or warmth. Why does it take so long to evacuate trains when it is clear they are going nowhere? And why is it deemed acceptable to limit information to those unfortunates caught up in such an incident to almost nothing?

Train numbers may be going up and up but passenger service, especially in extremis, remains frustratingly poor.