Network rail bosses reassured stakeholders they were getting their act together less than 24 hours before train ‘chaos’ on the Reading to London Paddington line.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for transport at Reading Borough Council, attended the Great Western Rail stakeholder conference on Tuesday, October 16, at Novotel Paddington.

Later that evening, at around 10.30pm, a Crossrail test train damaged 500m of overhead power cables, causing travel chaos on Tuesday night and all day on Wednesday.

Cllr Page said Network rail bosses, including chief executive Andrew Haines, reassured stakeholders they were getting their act together and things were going to get better.

“Less than 24 hours later it was utter chaos; there was no railway,” he said.

“Stakeholders were being told how great NR are working to improve performance.

“It is calamitous and it should not have happened. It does not bode well.”

The deputy leader was back in Reading for full council on Tuesday evening at 6.30pm, hours before the accident occurred.

The new Hitachi Rail class 802 test train torn down half a kilometre of cabling, immediately knocking out the power supply.

A reduced service began at around midday on Wednesday but disruption continued throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

Had the stakeholders meeting, around 10 minutes from Paddington station, been scheduled the next day, it is likely many attendees would have struggled to make it.

Cllr Page said he hoped the problem was with the overhead wire and not a design fault.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Following a huge effort overnight all four lines between Reading and London Paddington are now open.

“However, there may still be some disruption so please do check before you travel. Thank you for your patience whilst we carried out this vital repair work.”