This weekend saw chaos on the railways as Railtrack introduced speed restrictions so safety tests could be carried out.

No-one would argue that the work needs to be done. The crash at Hatfield caused by a broken rail and the revelation that Britain's railway network is riddled with potentially lethal defects is nothing short of a scandal.

Quite simply, the penny-pinching of rail chiefs has cost lives and is now leaving passengers high and dry.

Many travellers caught up in the delays at Swindon station at the weekend were resigned to the fact that delays are inevitable while work to repair the lines is done.

But the disruption is set to last weeks rather than days and those who use the rail network would be forgiven for cursing the catologue of folly which has led to such a ridiculous state of affairs.

After so many lives were lost in the deplorable Southall, Paddington and Hatfield disasters, lessons must now have been learned.

There can be no excuse for compromising on rail safety ever again.