A WOMAN has said passengers were left stranded in the cold with no power while waiting to be evacuated from a broken down train.

Phoebe Ockenden posted on Twitter about being on a train that suffered a fault near Pulborough, blocking a train line between Arundel and Horsham and causing travel misery for Sussex commuters.

In a post, she said: “There’s no power and it’s cold. We are waiting for a rescue train that will come alongside and evacuate us.”

Phoebe also said she and other passengers had been onboard the stricken train for almost two hours.

Network Rail engineers attended the scene and discovered an issue with one of the train’s shoe gears - used to transfer electric current from the railway to the train.

A spokesman for Southern Rail said that the train blocking the line is now on the move.

Tickets can be used on alternative routes and services, including South Western trains between Southampton and Portsmouth to Brighton, Brighton and Hove Buses between Shoreham and Brighton, and the Stagecoach 700 route between Portsmouth and Brighton, as well as on other Southern and Thameslink services via any reasonable route.

Disruption is expected to continue until midday.

Southern’s Customer Services Director Chris Fowler said: “Regrettably this morning’s 05:20 Havant to Victoria service came to a halt between Billingshurst and Christ’s Hospital because of damage to the equipment that picks up power from the third rail.

“We worked hard to get people on their way, and until we could arrange to bring another train alongside, the safest place for passengers was to remain on the stationary train.

“We’re very sorry for the discomfort our customers experienced, and anyone whose journey was delayed by 15 minutes or more as a result of this incident can claim Delay Repay compensation via the Southern website.”