Weary commuters arrived on the Chester-bound platform at 5.30pm to read the news scribbled on a blackboard.
Yesterday (Tuesday), a spokesman for First North Western could not say what had happened to Thursday's train.
"It was cancelled due to a problem at the depot and we couldn't find a replacement," he said. "It never left Piccadilly."
Commuters returned to Knutsford railway station 30 minutes later only to find the next train had also been delayed because of the earlier problem.
First North Western's spokesman said the North West was the worst area in the country for trains being attacked.
"We have more hot spots than anywhere else in the UK for vandalism," he said.
"I am not aware of Knutsford being a bad one, but it can happen anywhere and especially if the children are off school."
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