RAIL services were largely back on track today following a weekend of misery for passengers.

The East Coast Main Line between York and Darlington reopened today after a weekend of engineering works.

Network Rail was carrying out maintenance work from Friday until Sunday, meaning commuters were forced to travel on buses. Many complained that they had to queue at Darlington station to get buses to take them to York before they could continue their journey south.

GNER spokesman David Mallender said the maintenance work had finished ahead of schedule.

Updated: 12:55 Monday, December 30, 2002