COMMUTERS are facing chaos after thunder and lightning storms.

Hundreds of bolts of lightning lit the night sky last night in Essex with two storms in the early hours of this morning.

Greater Anglia has severe problems on the lines and it will continue throughout the day with some services cancelled this afternoon due to hot weather.

An electrical storm has caused a signalling fault in the Romford area causing delays.

A signalling and points fault at London Liverpool Street is preventing access to and from platforms seven to ten. Train services on all Greater Anglia routes into London are affected by this problem.

A signalling problem at Ingatestone affecting the level crossing is affecting mainline train services to and from Colchester, Clacton, Ipswich, Norwich, Harwich Town and Braintree. Customers holding advance purchase tickets may travel on alternative trains, if your designated service is cancelled.

First Capital Connect, TFL buses, London Undergound and c2c will accept valid Greater Anglia tickets on any reasonable routes.

A spokesperson for Greater Anglia said: “We are sorry travel plans will be severely affected by this widespread disruption and thank you for your patience whilst Network Rail engineers resolve the problems.”

West Anglia routes serving Stansted Airport, Bishop’s Stortford and Cambridge are also affected.

Disruptions are due to continue through the afternoon as Network Rail puts in place speed restrictions between 1pm and 8.30pm due to the predicted hot weather.

The mercury is expected to rise to 31C this afternoon.

It means train services operating between Liverpool Street and Colchester, Norwich and Southend Victoria will be subject to some alterations and cancellations. Customers travelling during this time are advised to check for travel updates on the Greater Anglia website.

A full list of changes expected at this time are below.

Meanwhile the c2c route is running as normal apart from minor three minute delays for passengers travelling through Chalkwell station as there are speed restrictions in place due to a fault with the insecure footbridge.

First buses have warned Basildon passengers to expect delays due to surface water on roads.

The following amendments to train services will apply today:

Cancellations

15:52, 19:52 Ipswich to Liverpool Street

15:58 Ingatestone to Colchester

16:17, 16:47, 17:12 Liverpool Street to Witham

16:30 Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street

16:53 Colchester to Liverpool Street

17:45, 18:05 Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria

18:16 Witham to Liverpool Street

18:18, 18:38 Liverpool Street to Ipswich

20:22 Ipswich to Colchester

Alterations

15:38 Liverpool Street to Colchester Town calls additionally at Ingatestone and Hatfield Peverel

16:32 Liverpool Street to Ipswich calls additionally at Ingatestone

17:09 Liverpool Street to Clacton calls additionally at Ingatestone

17:20 Liverpool Street to Braintree calls additionally at Hatfield Peverel

17:32 & 19:18 Liverpool Street to Clacton services start from Colchester

17:38 Liverpool Street to Ipswich calls additionally at Marks Tey

18:02 Liverpool Street to Southminster will call additionally at Billericay.

18:12 Colchester to Liverpool Street calls additionally at Ingatestone

18:48 Liverpool Street to Clacton calls additionally at Ingatestone and Marks Tey

19:32 Liverpool Street to Harwich International calls additionally at Ingatestone

20:05 Clacton to Liverpool Street calls additionally at Marks Tey, Kelvedon and Hatfield Peverel