AFTER the first day at her new school, all Nia Braidford wanted to do was tell daddy what it was like and let him know about her new friends and teachers.

AFTER the first day at her new school, all Nia Braidford wanted to do was tell daddy what it was like and let him know about her new friends and teachers.

Sadly Andrew Braidford didn't make it home in time - he was caught up in the delays on Tuesday night and his train arrived back in Ipswich nearly 90 minutes late.

And that has become a regular story for the theatrical agent from Cliff Road in Ipswich, who works in Chiswick in south west London.

He said: “It's really becoming serious. Last week there were the problems on Wednesday and Friday which meant I didn't get home until long after Nia was in bed.

“Then on Tuesday she had been told she could stay up to tell me about her first day at Amberfield - but once again my train was delayed by well over an hour. It puts an incredible strain on family life.”

His wife, Beth, is hoping to form a pressure group for the families of commuters to try to put pressure on rail companies 'one' and Network Rail.

She wrote to the Star: “My husband leaves our home at 7.15am every day, he just about sees our daughter. He does a full day's work in London before catching the 7pm train home.

“Officially he should be home by 8.30pm. Sadly I can't remember the last time that has been the case. Invariably it is nine to 9.30pm - even 10pm and then the crowning glory, 11pm.

“All in all the impact on family life is huge and desperately damaging.

“I do not want to be a woe is me wife, but please please, Network Rail and 'one', next time you hear that a train is delayed think about the little children sobbing themselves to sleep because Daddy couldn't get home.

“It may sound dramatic, but we pay the huge prices you ask, we turn up on time, we wait in line to stand all the way home, we fork out cab fares, when your service messes up, just to get home. I think we are entitled to be severely hacked off.”

Seven-year-old Nia was up early on Wednesday to tell her daddy about school before he left for work.

She said: “I was very sad that I couldn't see him when he came home, he's often late. I had a good time and I wanted to tell him about it.”

Anyone who wants to join Mrs Braidford to put pressure on the rail companies can contact her at: Btuckeyips@aol.com