Storm Boelo brings more travel chaos and cancellations across Preston and Manchester Airport
Storm Boelo continues to have an impact across Lancashire.
Train services between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport are being disrupted on Monday, October 26, following damage to overhead electric wires between Preston and Bolton.
Northern Rail has confirmed that all lines between Preston and Bolton are closed, meaning services on the route are being cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected to continue until at least 10am.
While teams are working hard to restore as many services as possible, some routes may still see disruption today.
Engineers have been working overnight to repair damage to overhead lines between Preston and Bolton. Northern services will operate direct between Manchester, Bolton and north of Preston, with road replacement calling at intermediate stations between Bolton and Preston.
Blackpool North is among the stations affected, alongside Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Chorley and Preston.
Compensation
You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.
Advice for passengers
Passengers travelling from Blackpool North have been advised to check their journeys before travelling on Monday, October 26, as services may be cancelled or subject to changes. Northern Rail has advised customers that they can travel on the next available Northern service to their destination, where available.
During the disruption, Northern tickets can also be used at no extra cost on Bee Network bus services 8 and 37, operated by Transport for Greater Manchester.= Ticket restrictions have been lifted in the affected areas, including restrictions on Advance and peak-time tickets. These restrictions will be reinstated once the disruption ends.
Passengers have also been warned that other train operators may be affected and are advised to check their entire journey before setting off. Network Rail staff continue to work to resolve the overhead wire damage, with disruption expected until at least 10am on Monday, October 26.
What Northern has said
Northern Rail said: “Please check before you travel, as Storms Austen and Boelo are expected to affect train services across our network. Strong winds can bring trees, branches and other debris onto the railway, which can affect train services and make journeys less reliable than usual.
“To help keep you moving safely, we are making some changes to services from Friday 23 October to Monday 26 October. If you are planning to travel on these dates, please check your journey before setting off and allow extra time, as some services may be amended or subject to short-notice changes.
“We know these changes can make travelling more difficult, and we will continue to monitor conditions closely throughout the storms. Please check your journey before travelling. We know many of you still need to travel, and we’ll keep you updated to help you plan your journey.”