A rail operator that connects Cumbria to Manchester and Scotland is advising customers to check before they travel and to allow extra time to travel on the run-up to Christmas Day.
Customers planning on making journeys using TransPennine Express (TPE) services on December 23 and 24 are being asked to plan ahead due to a lack of available staff caused by industrial relations issues as well as the impact of COVID.
Due to this, services across the TPE network may be subject to delays and short-notice cancellations over the coming days. Customers are urged to allow extra time and check before they travel at tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/current-major-service-disruption or via National Rail Enquiries.
During what is the season of goodwill, the train company is reminding people to be kind and show patience and respect towards railway staff and other customers so that everyone can travel with confidence.
Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience director for TransPennine Express said: “We are doing all we can to keep people moving on the run-up to Christmas Day, however a lack of available staff caused by industrial relations issues as well as sickness due to Covid is causing disruption to some of our services.
“Anyone planning on using TransPennine Express services on December 23 and 24 is advised to allow additional time for travel and to check carefully – up to the last minute – for any changes to train times.”
Customers are also reminded that unless exempt, a face covering must be worn onboard train services and at stations. As usual, train services will shut down earlier on Christmas Eve with no trains operating on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
Services will then start running again on December 27, with a slightly later start compared to normal and on some routes, engineering work will mean changes for some customers.
