Travel chaos as computer crashes

Thousands of rail passengers heading away for the New Year face chaos and confusion after a new £80million computer system crashed.

The computer crash on the national reservation system means many passengers who have booked a seat for a longdistance journey will have to stand on busy trains instead.

"There are glitches and there probably will be problems for a day or two," said a spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies. But a spokesman for watchdog the Rail Passengers' Council said: "It has descended into a bit of a farce. Passengers are always being told to book ahead, then when they try they cannot."

It is not clear when the computer crash will be rectified - adding to other rail problems.

Passengers are already finding they cannot buy the cheapest tickets on many routes.

Track work by Network Rail means operators have not yet been able to offer full timetables-This, in turn, means travellers cannot get the cheapest advance deals which require specific travel times.

For example, someone wishing to travel by Virgin Trains from Euston to Manchester would normally book a £22 Apex return 14 days in advance. But as there is no full timetable yet, they must buy an open Saver ticket for £52.

About a million people are expected to use the railways each day over the New Year weekend.