Train passengers in South Yorkshire are facing delays on New Year's Eve after the theft of signalling cables in Conisbrough, Network Rail has said. Services between Sheffield and Doncaster are affected throughout the day, with all three operators—CrossCountry, Northern and TransPennine Express—reporting cancellations and delays.
Northern and TransPennine services are likely to be delayed by up to 30 minutes between Doncaster and Sheffield, while CrossCountry trains face delays of up to 15 minutes. Network Rail said staff were on site and the incident is expected to be investigated by British Transport Police.
The theft of signalling equipment forces trains to be guided manually by signallers, resulting in fewer and slower services. Network Rail noted that cable thefts cost the public millions of pounds each year, with an even greater knock-on effect to the economy.
According to Network Rail, the number of incidents has risen sharply in recent years, likely driven by the rising value of raw materials such as copper. In 2025, more than 102 incidents of live cable theft have occurred across the railway, causing 104,737 minutes of train delays and costing £5.1m. This includes the theft of copper cables on the Eurostar line between London and Paris in June, disrupting thousands of passengers.
In 2024, there were 108 incidents of cable theft across Britain, causing 69,275 minutes of delays and costing £3.3m—a 48% increase from 2023, when 73 incidents led to 46,464 minutes of delays and cost £3.7m.
