A train carrying Labour's rail chief has broken down - on his way to protest about rail fares.

The irony was not lost on Andy McDonald as his protest against the biggest hike in five years descended into farce today.

The Shadow Transport Secretary's 9.56am Virgin Trains East Coast service from Stevenage was meant to arrive in Leeds at 11.50am.

Instead the train came to a sudden halt and the lights blinked off in a power outage just outside Grantham.

His train was stuck motionless for around two hours waiting for a diesel rescue locomotive.

By 3pm Mr McDonald had given up on his Leeds trip and was heading back to Middlesbrough on a second train. But in a final insult, the train's wi-fi connection conked out midway through a live interview with BBC News.

Meanwhile the Tory Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, was nowhere to be seen as he enjoyed an official trip to sunny Qatar.

"Chris Grayling’s in Qatar. I tell you what, I’ve got catarrh from standing on the wet platform," Mr McDonald proclaimed.

(Image: @AndyMcDonaldMP/Twitter)

(Image: PA)

"We had a complete loss of power," Mr McDonald told us from his full carriage. "Everything went dark and silent, a bit like Chris Grayling.

"I don't know when I'm going to get to Leeds. I should probably abandon all prospect of that now. I'll just have to give up on it.

"I think it's quite amusing. People are very good, very patient, very sanguine about it but it's really scuppered everybody's plans for the day.

"But we've got free wi-fi! So there we are!"

Mr McDonald, who spent the time chatting to colleagues and filming a video from the broken-down train, said the outage showed a serious point.

Rail fares went up by an average of 3.4% today, the highest rise in five years.

And Virgin Trains East Coast is accused of getting a "bailout" after the government let the firm abandon its franchise three years early.

He added: "Of course these things happen, but given this is the franchise that's just had a £2billion bailout and we've had fares go up by 3.6% today, it doesn't really bode well.

"I think it will stick in a lot of people's throats that that's the sort of service they get."

(Image: PA)

The Labour chief's train finally got moving after around two hours but was described by aides as "stop and start".

Mr McDonald condemned Mr Grayling for leaving the country instead of defending the fares hike and the East Coast deal.

He said: "He's not giving an explanation. He can't run forever because the Public Accounts Committee and Transport Select Committee will demand clarity on this.

"I think he's in real difficulties."

How rail fares are soaring in 2018 (Image: PA) Oxford to London - old price £4,920 - new price £5,096 - rise £176 Elgin to Inverness - £2,804 - £2,904 - £100 Ludlow to Hereford - £2,136 - £2,212 - £76 Barnstaple to Exeter - £2,008 - £2,080 - £72 Hove to London - £4,184 - £4,332 - £148 Liverpool to Manchester - £3,044 - £3,152 - £108 Neath to Cardiff - £1,652 - £1,708 - £56 Chelmsford to Colchester - £2,100 - £2,172 - £72 Maidenhead to London - £2,988 - £3,092 - £104 Blackburn to Manchester - £1,820 - £1,864 - £44 Barrow-in-Furness to Preston - £3,940 - £4,040 - £100 Epsom to London - £2,152 - £2,228 - £76 Gloucester to Birmingham - £3,968 - £4,108 - £140 Thetford to Norwich - £1,868 - £1,932 - £64 Bournemouth to London - £6,500 - £6,732 - £232 Tweedbank to Edinburgh - £2,636 - £2,732 - £96 Bangor to Llandudno - £1,220 - £1,260 - £40 Stonehaven to Aberdeen - £1,296 - £1,344 - £48 Weston Super Mare to Bristol - £1,876 - £1,940 - £64 Stirling to Glasgow - £2,084 - £2,160 - £76