Passengers heading home for Christmas faced rail chaos today as services were delayed and cancelled.

The chaos led to misery for thousands of people trying to make an early start home for the festive season.

Passengers waiting at Brighton at noon were told there would be no services to Victoria for three hours and there was no guarantee of normal services being resumed in time for the evening commuter rush.

Peter Fulwood, a trainee doctor who was heading home to Newcastle for Christmas said: "The 11.50am to Victoria was cancelled and the customer service desk said there would be no more trains between then and 3pm.

"There are a lot of disgruntled people about. I was hoping to get an early start on my journey but goodness knows what time I'm going to get home now.

"It's freezing cold on the draughty station and there's nothing to do but wait. Only the coffee shops seem happy because they have a captive audience."

Angie Miller, 34, of Old Shoreham Road, Brighton, said: "I am going shopping in Croydon. This is a bit of a nuisance but staff are being helpful about it."

Pensioner Alice Miller, of Elm Grove, Brighton, said: "I am meeting my daughter in London.

"I shall be late and I don't like changing but someone lent me a mobile phone and I was able to get through to her."

Govia said two trains had broken down train either side of Earlswood, blocking the line. A defective rail 150 metres outside Earlswood had also caused problems.

Further complications arose when the Gatwick Express lost three electrical pick-up shoes.

A spokesman said: "We would like to apologise to passengers. We are trying to get things back to normal as soon as possible."

Some Thameslink services were running out of Brighton because they had priority on the track.

But a spokesman said: "There are no extra trains because two lines are blocked and there's nowhere for them to go."

Extra staff were on duty and frequent announcements were made at the station to help passengers.