North West rail passengers thanked for patience after Storm Boelo disruption
Network Rail's North West route dealt with 357 weather-related issues, cut back and removed 70 trees from the tracks, and responded to nine floods that prevented trains from running
Rail passengers across the North West have been thanked for their patience after Storm Boelo caused major disruption to train journeys.
Torrential rain and gales, with gusts of up to 70mph, flooded some tracks and brought down trees which damaged the infrastructure and delayed trains.
Over the weekend, Network Rail’s North West route dealt with:
- 357 weather-related issues that caused faults on the railway
- Cut back and removed 70 trees from the tracks
- Removed three items that had flown onto overhead line equipment
- Responded to nine floods that prevented trains from running
- Repaired four key sections of overhead electrical lines in Garstang, Lostock and Hazel Grove, that were damaged by the strong winds and trees
Chris Wright, Network Rail North West route director, said: "I am really sorry to everyone whose journey has been affected by Storm Boelo. We know how disruptive and frustrating the last few days have been, particularly for those trying to travel at the start of the working week. We are incredibly grateful to passengers for their patience and continued support.
"Our teams have worked around the clock in extremely challenging conditions to repair the damage, remove fallen trees and reopen routes safely. Most railway lines across the North West are now open, but the scale of the storm's impact means some services may still operate to amended timetables or run at reduced speeds today.”
Andrew McClements, TransPennine Express customer experience and transformation director, added: "Storms Austen and Boelo created really difficult conditions across the weekend, and I'm grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding as we did all we could to keep them on the move.
"The railway worked hard to keep routes open and to give customers as many options as possible to help them complete necessary journeys. Customers who were unable to travel with TransPennine Express on Sunday can still use those tickets on Monday and Tuesday, and our colleagues will be on hand to help make journeys as smooth as possible."