'Major’ rail disruption impacting Preston, Bolton, Wigan, Blackpool & Manchester - Northern issues warning
Northern rail issues 'essential travel only' warning due to major disruptions affecting Preston, Bolton, Wigan, Blackpool, and Manchester.
There is ‘major’ disruption impacting Lancashire train passengers this morning as Northern warns ‘only travel where essential’.
Services between Preston and Bolton, and Preston and Wigan North Western, are impacted due to damage to the overhead electric wires between Preston and Bolton.
The disruption is also impacting passengers between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport, and Blackpool North and Liverpool Lime Street, with many rush hour trains cancelled.
Northern said Network Rail staff are on site working to resolve the issue but, due to the displacement of trains and crews, services are expected to be disrupted until 12.00pm.
Train services are currently unable to run between Preston and Bolton and also between Preston and Wigan North Western (in both directions). Services on the following lines of route are also affected by this disruption in both directions:
- Barrow in Furness to Manchester Airport
- Blackpool North to Manchester Airport
- Liverpool Lime Street to Blackpool North
A spokesperson for Northern said: “Customers travelling between Preston and Bolton / Wigan North Western are advised to only travel where essential.
“Bus services are likely to be heavily subscribed and will be limited in capacity and frequency. You can travel on the next Northern service to your destination, where available.
“Customers at Manchester stations travelling to Preston are advised that they can travel from Manchester Victoria to Blackburn to connect with alternative Northern services to Preston/Blackpool.
“Customers travelling from Blackpool North/Preston travelling towards Manchester stations can travel to Blackburn and board an alternative Northern service towards Manchester.”
Road replacement transport has been recruited to run as follows:
- 08:15 Preston to Wigan North Western calling at Leyland, Euxton Balshaw Lane and Wigan North Western. operated by Coastal Coaches.
- 09:30 Wigan North Western to Preston calling at Euxton Balshaw Lane, Leyland and Preston. operated by Coastal Coaches.