Frustrated rail passengers said they had been left “stranded” at Manchester Piccadilly station following signalling problems.
National Rail said a major fault in the Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent area had led to line closures.
News journalist Dan Wareing said he was travelling with his wife to Plymouth via Birmingham New Street when their train stopped 20 minutes into their journey and was sent back to Manchester.
He said: “Because there were also trains heading to London which were cancelled, hundreds of passengers were emptied back into Piccadilly station, stranded and wondering what to do next.”
He added: “Some people in our carriage laughed, some people were angry. One lady said she needed to get to Birmingham to return to her family and her baby.”
Disruption is expected until the end of the day, with National Rail warning services on a number of routes may be cancelled, delayed by up to 180 minutes, or revised.