Train travel chaos after one broken rail near Manchester causes cancellations across the UK
MULTIPLE train services across the UK have been cancelled and disrupted due to a broken piece of rail near Manchester.
Services to Birmingham, Manchester Airport and London are affected and the disruption is expected to last until the end of service today.
The broken rail was discovered last night at Ardwick Junction and repairs will not be completed until Wednesday.
has said services will be cancelled, delayed or revised.
Northern, TransPennine Express and Virgin Trains services have been impacted.
Northern rail services between Manchester Piccadilly and Hazel Grove, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport, and Blackpool North and Manchester Airport have been cancelled in both directions.
The Northern service between Wigan North Western and Alderley Edge was originally cancelled but was reinstated.
There are going to be hourly Northern trains to Liverpool Lime Street via St Helens Junction and an hourly train to Blackpool that will only go as far as Preston.
Northern has arranged bus replacement services.
Virgin Trains services between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston have been reduced.
Is your journey affected?
Virgin Trains
- Hourly XX:15 cancelled from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston
- Hourly XX:00 cancelled from London Euston to Piccadilly
- The hourly XX:35 train will also call at Milton Keynes
Northern rail
- Cancelled in both directions - Manchester Piccadilly and Hazel Grove
- Cancelled in both direction - Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport
- Cancelled in both directions - Blackpool North and Manchester Airport
- Hourly train at XX:22 from Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street via St Helens Junction
- Hourly train at XX:31 to Blackpool and a train going to Preston at XX:01
- Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street is still running
TransPennine Express
- All services to Newcastle are turning around at Manchester Victoria
- Trains to Glasgow and Edinburgh will also go to Wigan North Western
All Virgin Trains that are scheduled to depart at from quarter past the hour from Manchester Piccadilly and are due to leave from the top of the hour from London Euston have been cancelled.
TransPennine Express services between Manchester Airport and Manchester Victoria have been reduced.
All the train's Newcastle services are turning around at Manchester Victoria.
TransPennine Express services to Glasgow and Edinburgh will also go to Wigan North Western.
Customers have been told their tickets will be accepted on Metrolink services between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly and also on TransPennine Express services.
Many commuters expressed their frustration on Twitter.
One said: "A new excuse for cancellations and delays this morning - a rail flaw near Manchester Piccadilly. #TrainPain."
Another added: "A typical start to the day - my morning train from Warrington to Manchester Piccadilly is cancelled 🙃 #northernfail."
Cancelled trains from Manchester Piccadilly
Updated from time of publishing
12:47 Blackpool North
12:50 Manchester Airport
13:09 Liverpool Lime Street
13:13 Manchester Airport
13:15 London Euston
13:18 Wigan North Western via Bolton
13:24 Hazel Grove
13:35 Newcastle
13:47 Blackpool North
13:50 Manchester Airport
13:59 Manchester Airport
14:09 Liverpool Lime Street
14:13 Manchester Airport
14:15 London Euston
14:24 Hazel Grove
14:35 Newcastle
14:47 Blackpool North
14:49 Sheffield via New Mills Central
14:50 Manchester Airport
14:59 Manchester Airport
15:09 Liverpool Lime Street
15:13 Manchester Airport
15:15 London Euston
15:24 Hazel Grove
15:35 Newcastle
15:47 Blackpool North
15:50 Manchester Airport
15:59 Manchester Airport
16:09 Liverpool Lime Street
16:13 Manchester Airport
16:15 London Euston
16:24 Hazel Grove
16:35 Newcastle
16:45 Blackpool North
16:50 Manchester Airport
17:00 Manchester Airport
17:10 Liverpool Lime Street
17:13 Manchester Airport
17:15 London Euston
A spokesperson from Manchester Piccadilly said: “Train services are disrupted in and out of Manchester because of a broken rail at Ardwick Junction.
“We’ve close one of the lines into Manchester Piccadilly station until repairs are completed tonight.
“This means we have less railway on which to run trains so the numbers of services will be reduced.
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“Four of the six lines will need to be closed to fix the cracked rail so, to minimise disruptions to train customers, we are going to carry out this work overnight tonight.
“We are really sorry to everyone affected by delayed and cancellations.
“As always we urge everyone to check before they travel on or with their operators.”
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