Bleary eyed rail passengers stumbled onto the platform today after enduring a SIX hour ordeal onboard the last train home from London.

ALL aboard the night train.

Bleary eyed rail passengers stumbled onto the platform today after enduring a SIX hour ordeal onboard the last train home from London.

That's how long it took for National Express East Anglia customers to arrive in Ipswich after a train broke down not once… but twice.

The company has today apologised and promised full refunds to those stuck all night on board the 11.30pm train from Liverpool Street to Norwich.

But for Roger Dickinson, who didn't arrive home in Stowmarket until 6am this morning, the passengers deserve more.

Before embarking on the nightmare journey the 62-year-old Brentford supporter was in buoyant mood, having just seen his team overcome Norwich City.

But he and his son Lawrence were soon regretting their trip to London when the first episode in a horrendous journey began with the train breaking down at Ingatestone.

There they were forced to wait for nearly three hours while a replacement engine was found.

He said: “What really frustrated me and more than 100 other people onboard was that we had no idea what was going on.

“The conductress was doing her best to tell us when a new engine would arrive but there was just no information being given to her.”

Mr Dickinson thought the worst of the journey was behind him when the train finally pulled out of Ingatestone three hours behind schedule. But it wasn't long before disaster struck again.

“We set off from Colchester and got about half way to Manningtree when the train started lurching and shuddering.

“We sat there for another 45 minutes before they decided to reverse the train back to Colchester and replace the engine again.”

As the sun rose, the train finally pulled into Stowmarket station, where passengers were greeted by National Express staff waiting with claims applications.

Mr Dickinson said: “For something this excessive we should be offered more than the cost of the ticket.”

A spokesman for National Express apologised to customers onboard the train, saying: “Obviously this was a very frustrating journey home for people.

“Passengers will be entitled to full refunds and, in view of the extent of the delay, we will be looking at what other recompense we can offer, as well as what lessons we need to learn for the future.”