Train services between Liphook and London were delayed for the second time in two days after ice formed on the electric rail overnight.

South West Trains services from Portsmouth to London were forced to abandon scheduled stops between Petersfield and Haslemere – including Liss and Liphook – for fear the trains could get stuck in stations and not be able to restart.

Northbound passengers were forced to travel to Haslemere and then return to Liphook or Liss on a Portsmouth-bound stopping service. Meanwhile southbound passengers heading for Liphook and Liss had to travel as far as Petersfield and then return north on a local service.

Commuters had already experienced problems because of a fault on an early train. And on Thursday, a damaged rail disrupted early morning southbound services between Guildford and Haslemere after an inspection of the track found the defect.

Services were back to normal by lunchtime despite a points problem at Wimbledon affecting London-bound passengers.