OREANDA-NEWS. Two lines - one north, one south - were shut over the weekend as Network Rail engineers recovered two damaged trains and repaired the railway.

Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said: "I’m pleased to confirm today we have reopened the both the lines through Watford tunnel and trains are running again.

"Our orange army engineers made good progress over the weekend. They cleared all the slip debris off the tracks and removed the damaged trains from the tunnel. They also repaired the railway, including replacing 50 concrete sleepers, and welded in new sections of track."

London Midland’s managing director, Patrick Verwer, said: “I would like to apologise for the disruption over the last few days. I would also like to thank our passengers. Everyone has shown great patience and understanding while many responded to our appeal to delay journeys or take alternative routes. This meant made it easier for people who had no option but to use the reduced services while Network Rail colleagues repaired the track.”

The slip on the embankment at the north entrance to the tunnel was hit by a southbound train on Friday, causing some of its front wheels to come off the tracks.  Another train, which entered the tunnel heading north at the same moment, clipped the southbound train.

Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain's railway - the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.65bn journeys by rail every year and move hundreds of millions of tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We employ 36,000 people across Britain and work round-the-clock, each and every day, to provide a safe, reliable railway.