Train services in parts of north-west England have been severely disrupted due to a power outage affecting the signalling centre responsible for railway operations in the area.
Travelers waiting for Northern and TransPennine trains are being advised to avoid travel, as numerous cancellations have occurred, and many services are facing delays exceeding one hour.
The National Rail inquiries website issued a warning about significant disruptions following the incident that took place on Thursday afternoon, particularly impacting train services in the Greater Manchester region, the Midlands, and northern England.
A spokesperson stated, “This situation is likely to lead to extensive disruptions until the end of the day. If you are planning to travel with Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern, Northern, TransPennine Express, or Transport for Wales in the affected areas, please be aware that your train could be cancelled, delayed, or altered.”
“We recommend allowing additional time for your journey this afternoon, as you may need to find alternative routes or change trains midway to reach your destination.”
The disruption began following a power failure shortly before 2 PM in the Greater Manchester area, where the Manchester Rail Operating Centre is located. An emergency generator failed to activate in time to support the signalling operations.
While power has since been restored, safety protocols necessitate a gradual restart of the systems at the centre. Although some train services are resuming, Network Rail has indicated that disruptions will continue to affect services traversing the region.
Chris Wright, the north-west route director at National Rail, commented, “We apologize to passengers affected by the power issues in Manchester, which are causing significant delays to train services in the city. While some services are now operational, major disruptions are anticipated for the remainder of the day. I encourage anyone planning to travel to check the National Rail inquiries for the most current updates.”
Passengers within Greater Manchester have been informed that they are permitted to use any Bee Network bus or Metrolink service without incurring additional charges.
