COMMUTERS breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as the railway line at Harbury Tunnel reopened.

The key route between London and Birmingham was closed following a 350,000- tonne landslip on January 31.

Network Rail engineers worked around the clock to clear and stabilise the cutting, which is 30ft deep and has had a history of instability problems. Yesterday, service resumed as normal, with the first passenger train for three weeks departing for London at 5.46am.

Cherwell Rail Users group chairman Chris Bates, who travelled on the line on yesterday morning, said: “My journey was perfect – spot on. It went really smoothly.”

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But other passengers reported that signal problems near Birmingham led to delays of up to 40 minutes.

Commuter Daniel Rendall, 40, from Leamington, said: “My train was delayed. The 7.38 was held to 8.23. I think we are back to normal levels of incompetence.”

During the landslip repairs, railway replacement buses ran between Banbury and Leamington Spa, adding about 45 minutes to the average commute. Mr Rendall added that out of frustration he had produced a poem on the subject which including the lines:

“Replacement buses ferried passengers from Banbury to Leamington Spa

Two places which seem near by train, but on a bus appear quite far.

For luxury coach companies, easy money was to be made

As passengers were forced to cope with journeys much delayed.”