FRUSTRATED commuters were turned away from St Albans City station this morning, told there were no trains in either direction until further notice.

Although several morning commuter services had already left for London, a station worker told the Review at about 8.50am: “At the moment there are no trains at all.

“The points are frozen so they can't get any trains out of the sidings. And there are problems with the power supply in central London.”

Would-be passengers desperate to get to London were advised by staff to walk to St Albans Abbey station or get a bus to Hatfield.

As staff closed the station at about 9am, a crowd developed outside, with workers phoning their managers to tell them they would not be appearing.

One angry commuter, Andy Stevens of Twickenham, told the Review: “I am trying to get to Luton Airport Parkway – I work nearby.

“I have just been thrown off the platform - apparently for my health and safety.

“I was quite happy in the nice warm waiting room, but now they insist on throwing me onto the freezing pavement.

“I am sick of First Capital Connect – the sooner they lose the franchise the bettter. It is atrocious.

“Other train companies are running – I have noticed several expresses going through this station into London from the Midlands.

“In Germany and Austria it is much colder than here, and their trains manage to run on time.”

Asked what he was planning to do next he said: “Plot to destroy this company - there must be a way.

“It is tempting to punch the staff, but there's no point in that so I might find out where the managing director lives and rearrange the garden.”

Tom Glinka, a lawyer who lives in Albion Road, St Albans, said: “I am trying to travel to London to work.

“Yesterday the trains were fine - better than usual.

“There were hardly any people and they were on time both ways.

“I don't know if there will be any trains later but even if there are you might not be able to get back.

“They are advising us not to travel so I'll just work from home.”

Jo Aspill, a picture editor for The Sunday Mirror newspaper, said: “I have given up trying to get to work.

“Luckily I can work from home quite easily, but there are plenty of others who can't so they are going to be in trouble.”

In contrast, buses are running throughout St Albans, several leaving the station full of disappointed train passengers