Transport for London has blamed a section of faulty track for severe delays on the Central Line. Services were suspended on a busy section of the track after the problem was discovered at around 7pm on Monday at St Paul’s station.

All services had to be halted between White City and Liverpool Street stations as engineers worked during the night to rectify the problem.

A total of 15 stations were affected in the West End and delays were experienced by passengers on other parts of the line. The latest problems are likely to raise more questions as to whether the already crowded London Underground if fully prepared for the extra visitors arriving for the Olympic Games.

As well as delays on the Tube, passengers travelling on the Overground have been forced to endure delays of several hours.

Services between Stratford and Canonbury began to be disrupted in the early evening and were not restored until 9.30pm. Even so commuters were faced with delays for an hour longer.