Due to a power failure at the Manchester Rail Operating Centre (ROC), transport operators have announced a major disruption on the rail network across Greater Manchester and the north west of England. A failure of the electricity supply at a communications centre means trains across the region are being disrupted.
Rail operators have issued a do not travel notice as delays and cancellations are expected on all operator routes across Greater Manchester until the end of today (Thursday 6th August). TfGM has said ticket acceptance is in place on all Bee Network buses and Metrolink services across Greater Manchester for rail passengers affected.
Advice from train operators regarding rail disruption in Greater Manchester and the North West
Avanti West Coast
Macclesfield will not be served.
Your ticket can be used at no extra cost in both directions on:
- CrossCountry between Birmingham New Street and Stoke-on-Trent
- London Northwestern Railway services between Crewe and London Euston
- Northern between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe / Stoke-on-Trent
- TransPennine Express between Edinburgh / Glasgow Central and Preston
- Transport for Wales services between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe
If your train is cancelled, your ticket is valid on one of the two Avanti West Coast services immediately before your booked train, or one of the two immediately after.
Off-Peak ticket restrictions have been relaxed during this ongoing disruption. If you no longer wish to travel because your train is delayed or cancelled, you can request a full refund from where you bought your ticket
East Midlands Railway
East Midlands Railway advises that you do not travel between Sheffield and Liverpool Lime Street. Trains on the Liverpool Lime Street/ Nottingham/ Norwich routes are unable to run between Sheffield and Liverpool Lime Street until further notice.
Trains between Nottingham and Sheffield can continue to run in both directions. This fault is no longer affecting services on the Crewe / Derby / Nottingham / Lincoln routes.
East Midlands Railway has also arranged some road transport. These buses will be added to the online journey planners:
- Buses departing Sheffield calling at Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly. These will depart Sheffield at 15:15 and 15:45
- Buses departing Manchester Piccadilly calling at Stockport and Sheffield. These will depart Manchester at 15:30, 15:45 and 17:00
You can use your ticket at no extra cost on:
- Avanti West Coast services between Liverpool and London Euston (These services also call at Crewe where you can change for services towards Nottingham)
- Greater Anglia services between Norwich and London Liverpool Street
- All Bee Network bus services across Greater Manchester
- All Metrolink lines.
These alternative route options are available in the opposite direction too.
If you have a ticket dated for travel today (Thursday 6 August) and decide not to travel you may use your ticket to travel tomorrow, Friday 7 August instead.
London Northwestern Railway
Rail replacement transport is en route to run between Hartford and Liverpool Lime Street.
Northern
Northern advises that you do not travel. Train services are unable to run on multiple lines of route in the North West.
You can travel on the next Northern service to your destination, where available.
You can travel on the following train operators and routes at no extra cost:
- Blackpool Transport services on any reasonable route
- Merseyrail services on any reasonable route
- Metrolink services on any reasonable route
- Stagecoach Buses in the Liverpool City Region
- TransPennine Express services on any reasonable route
- Transport for Greater Manchester bus services on any reasonable route
Northern train ticket restrictions have been lifted in the affected areas, including Advance and Peak restrictions, during this disruption. Restrictions will be reinstated once the disruption ends.
TransPennine Express
TransPennine Express advises that you do not travel. You can use your ticket at no extra cost in both directions on:
- Bee Network buses throughout the whole network in Greater Manchester
- CrossCountry services between Sheffield, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh
- LNER services between Doncaster, Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh
- Metrolink services between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria/Manchester Airport
- Northern services between Sheffield and Doncaster/ Leeds
Transport for Wales
Transport for Wales has organised buses to run between Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Piccadilly to help you complete your journey, at no extra cost. These will arrive at Warrington Bank Quay at approximately 15:00 provided by Mario’s.
These arrangements are in place on services until 18:00.
Road Transport will take longer than rail services. Please allow extra time to complete your journey.
You can use your ticket at no extra cost on the following:
- Avanti West Coast between Manchester stations / Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe
- Merseyrail between Liverpool and Chester
- Metrolink services between Eccles and Manchester Airport via Manchester City Centre Zone 1 Tram Stops
You can find more information on the National Rail website here.
