Passengers and staff at Oxford railway station found themselves in the middle of a crisis after a major power cut.

The problem led to lights, ticket machines, electronic timetables and the station's public address system not working. The toilets were closed and passengers were unable to buy hot food and drinks.

However, the signalling system was unaffected and trains were running on time. Extra staff were laid on to give advice to passengers and sell tickets using mobile ticket machines.

The electricity supply to the station went off at 8am yesterday and was not restored until 7.25pm.

Station managers blamed the blackout on contractors at the nearby Rewley Park housing development cutting through a power cable.

Electricity was only restored after a portable generator was brought in from Birmingham.

Lou Tate, spokesman for Thames Trains, said: "At 8am a power cable supplying electricity to the station was severed by some contractors working on the Rewley Park development.

"It meant there was no electricity and as a result we were unable to sell tickets. "We had three or four people selling tickets for immediate travel but it meant that anyone who wanted to buy Apex tickets or make reservations was asked to dial our national credit card hotline."

"It was not chaotic but it was inconvenient and we apologise for that. It has been a case of all hands on deck."

People waiting at the station last night were not too perturbed by the powerless predicament. Rail user Fay Kirk, who had been on a day trip from Derby with husband, Don, said: "We have not been able to get a coffee or use the cashpoint but if it cannot be helped, we are happy to put up with it."

Businessman Paul Sellen said: "I live in Portugal and this is the sort of thing you would expect there, not in Oxford.

"I have had to buy a bottle of cola rather than a coffee but it is not a major problem."

Robert Pearse, 21, from Banbury, said: "I noticed that the lights were out when I got here but it has not really affected me. All I needed was the timetables and luckily they are all written down on the wall."

Irene Guild, who was visiting Oxford with husband Jim, said: "I have not been able to go to the toilet and I have seen a few foreign people looking a little confused but we have not had trouble finding our train."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.