ENGINEERS were last night battling to restore rail services on the only rail route west out of Glasgow after thousands faced travel misery because of problems with power lines.

Extensive damage to the overhead electric wires between Partick and Charing Cross saw services completely knocked out at Glasgow Queen Street Station lower level as bosses warned of more cancellations today.

Trains between Partick to the lower level of Glasgow Central Station were also affected.

Transport bosses scrambled to restore operations ahead of what was predicted to be the hottest day of the year so far and the start of Scotland’s school holidays.

Temperatures hit highs of 25C in Glasgow amid a heatwave which is spreading across Europe.

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Staff dashed to the scene to start repairs after the evening rush-hour but said that, due to the extent of the damage, major disruption was expected to continue late into the night, with services being cancelled and delayed.

Rail replacement buses were running between Bellgrove and Dumbarton Central and Helensburgh Central.

Customers were advised to use First Buses on routes 2, 3, 6/A, 16, 60/A, 77, 94*, M4*, M11*, M60*, X4, 38, 41, 43, 46, 61, 90, 201, 240 and 255.

Customers travelling between Partick and the City Centre were told that Glasgow Underground services were accepting tickets between Partick and Buchanan Street and St. Enoch stations.

Station staff were on hand at Queen Street to direct passengers to buses.

One passenger, Gary Henderson, told the Evening Times he was worried about the amount of time it was going to take him to get home amid reports buses were “quite full”. The 27-year-old added: “It seems like there’s always something wrong with the trains these days.”

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Another man, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s absolutely roasting as well so I’m not looking forward to getting the bus home. It’ll be totally rammed as well. ScotRail needs to get its act together. There’s something wrong every day.”

One woman, Laura Ferguson, 31, added: “This will probably add an hour onto my journey home. I’m not looking forward to it in this hot weather. But if it’s something out of ScotRail’s control, what can you do?”

ScotRail posted an image on Twitter last night of the damaged wire, and wrote: “The object trapped in the tangled wires is a train’s pantograph, which collects electricity from the lines to power the train.”