TransPennine Express is strongly urging customers travelling north of Preston to avoid travel before 10am today, Monday February 21, due to disruption caused by Storm Franklin.
Services are subject to speed restrictions, delays and cancellations due to the extreme weather and as a result are very busy.
In addition to the severe weather, TPE is running an amended timetable yesterday, Sunday February 20 with a significant reduction in services as a Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union strike action is taking place.
As a result of both the strike action and Storm Franklin, TPE is calling on customers to consider if their journey is necessary and to avoid travel if possible.
Tickets from February 18, 19 and will be accepted for travel on Monday February 21 and Tuesday February 22.
Paul Watson, operations director for TransPennine Express said: “Due to the impact of Storm Franklin, train services are disrupted along the West Coast Mainline.
“The safety of our customers and staff is our priority and we are warning customers not to travel between Preston and Edinburgh/Glasgow until after 10am.
“Anyone planning on travelling by train today or before 10am tomorrow can choose to defer their travel or claim a refund.”
Customers can check their services via the TPE website: www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates or at www.nationalrail.co.uk
Customers may defer their journeys until Tuesday, or a full refund can be obtained at https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/help/refunds and there will be no admin fee for this.
Anyone that experiences a delay may be entitled to compensation with more information available at: www.tpexpress.co.uk/help/delay-repay-compensation.
Northern says its train customers should expect delays and cancellations and are strongly advised not to travel before noon today on some parts of the Northern network. Rail replacement road transport may not be provided in Cumbria, it added.
Avanti West Coast is strongly advising customers travelling today to delay their journeys until after 10am if they can. It said services on its network are subject to speed restrictions, delays and cancellations due to the extreme weather and as a result are very busy.
Tickets from Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be accepted for travel today and tomorrow.
Stagecoach has issued updates for its bus services this morning so far:
- Due to strong winds a building has collapsed in Botchergate. Its services are unable to use London Road for the time being, so will be using Warwick Road and Eastern Way until the road is clear.
- Due to a fallen tree, it is unable to serve Thornthwaite on its X5 services.
