RAILWAY enthusiasts were this week receiving refunds after the cancellation of the first excursion train in nearly 30 years from Minehead to London and back.

Cheshire Railtours, based in Rodhuish, had sold out the 460 seats for tomorrow's (Saturday) planned journey.

The company chartered a Great Western Railways InterCity 125 express to make the first trip of its kind since the Minehead branch line was axed by British Rail in 1971.

The early morning train would have allowed passengers around seven hours in London before making the return journey from Paddington Station.

But now it has been cancelled in the wake of last month's Paddington rail disaster.

Cheshire Railtours proprietor David Latimer said another charter train from Barnstaple to Paddington on December 11 also had to be cancelled.

Mr Latimer said Railtrack had reduced Paddington's capacity by 30 per cent "for the foreseeable future to allow various improvements to be made".

The result was insufficient room to accommodate any special trains, including the two for Cheshire Railtours, and several normal services.

Mr Latimer said: "In addition, speed restrictions have been introduced, some signals have been decommissioned and trains are being taken out of service for technical work.

"All this has led to a reduction in services and capacity on the railway with implications for the charter train business as well as other train services stretching over the next few months."

Mr Latimer said the work now being rushed through seemed another example of the "blatant neglect of the industry by the present and previous Governments".

He said: "One cannot help feeling frustration at the fact the Government's fat-cat friends who now run the privatised industry have made vast fortunes unheard of in BR days, while much of the system is crying out for investment more than ever.

"I can only apologise for the disappointment the cancellation of these trains will cause.

"Those who had already paid fares on either of these London trips will find their monies returned."