The great train pit! Railway destroyed because of “dingy wagons”.

It used to be the oft-mocked excuse for delays on the route that most angered rail passengers.

But customers using East Midlands Railway services between St Pancras and the rest of the country have encountered a new irritation.

EMR’s dirt-encrusted carriages have become a new source of concern for passengers.

It marks a low point for a line that was once the domain of gleaming steam locomotives such as the surviving Duchess of Sutherland and Royal Scot.

And to add insult to injury, the company is preparing to spend £370,000 on bike sheds so commuters can cycle to the station.

There has been much speculation among commuters as to what is causing the dirt problem, as other train operators manage to come out with well-presented pullers.

A St Pancras Express in Leicester, which has come in from one of Etches Park’s affected depots

Nottingham Eastcroft Light Maintenance Depot where some of the trains are washed to go

One said: “This is a common theme across East Midlands Railway.

“You can stand at Sheffield Midland Station and watch all the EMR services from London, Liverpool and Norwich and all the units and trains will be absolutely dingy from the outside.”

MailOnline can reveal that the reason for the dingy trains is that a washing machine in a depot is no longer up to the task.

The machines at the Etches Park and Eastcroft depots necessitate manual cleaning in some cases.

A source said: “The washing machine just wasn’t really up to it.

Train maintenance at Etches Park Depot, Derby where the system will soon be upgraded

“Units are gradually being ‘hand washed’ – often so dirty as to reduce visibility for the dispatching guards.”

Last month, EMR announced it was investing over £370,000 in cycling facilities across its network.

It said they would be included in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Mark Lambert, head of infrastructure and property at East Midlands Railway, said at the time: “Bike riding to the nearest station to catch a train to work, school or for a leisure outing is a great way to stay healthy and to reduce emissions.

“This investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to improving facilities for our regional customers, and we hope its installation will encourage more people to choose sustainable travel as part of their daily journey.”

The Dirt Trains aren’t the first time passengers have struggled with less than first-class service on the route.

In October 2020, passengers on a Leicester to St Pancras service were served chlorine instead of coffee, with five passengers requiring medical attention once the train reached London.

A spokesman for East Midlands Railway said: “In addition to increased hand washing, we are investigating ways to improve the performance of our current automated carriage washing systems.

‘As part of the depot upgrades for the arrival of our modern Aurora fleet, these washers will eventually be replaced with new units and, in the meantime, will also be used to clean our current fleet.’