Most unusual excuse for rail delays yet? Train over an hour late due to signalman trapped in toilet

He nipped away from his post to answer the call of nature but was left flushed with embarrassment when the brick outhouse’s lock jammed

Train passengers were held up for more than an hour when a railway signalman became trapped in an outside toilet.

The signalman nipped away from his post to answer the call of nature but was left flushed with embarrassment when the brick outhouse’s lock jammed and he was stuck inside.

The driver of the Hereford to London service heard the hapless worker’s cries for help after he was forced to stop his train because he could not make radio contact.

Colleagues eventually managed to set the signalman free by forcing the door open with a crowbar.

The 3.13pm service was delayed during the rescue near Worcester Foregate Street station.

Rail bosses gave the reason as “signalling problems” but rail ­enthusiasts became privy to the truth through an internet forum.

One user joked: “Where are all the relief staff when you need ‘em…?”

And another added: “Too busy filling in the signalman’s log.”

Network Rail ­apologised for Wednesday’s incident and blamed the rail system’s ageing buildings.

A spokesman added: “Much of the railway network is still controlled from Victorian signal boxes, which often have outside loos.

“Our plans to modernise will see control moved to state-of-the-art regional control centres, where unfortunate incidents such as this simply wouldn’t be an issue.”