Travel chaos amid mass Blackpool North train cancellations on busy Manchester line due to overhead wire damage

Train services between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport are being disrupted on Monday, October 26, following damage to overhead electric wires between Preston and Bolton.

Northern Rail has confirmed that all lines between Preston and Bolton are closed, meaning services on the route are being cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected to continue until at least 10am.

Blackpool North is among the stations affected, alongside Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Chorley and Preston.

Services between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport affected

Northern Rail has advised that trains are unable to run between Preston and Bolton in either direction due to the damage. Services between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport are among those affected by the disruption.

However, Northern has confirmed that services between Blackpool North and Preston are not affected and will run as normal. Network Rail staff are on site and working to repair the fault.

Advice for passengers

Passengers travelling from Blackpool North have been advised to check their journeys before travelling on Monday, October 26, as services may be cancelled or subject to changes. Northern Rail has advised customers that they can travel on the next available Northern service to their destination, where available.

During the disruption, Northern tickets can also be used at no extra cost on Bee Network bus services 8 and 37, operated by Transport for Greater Manchester.= Ticket restrictions have been lifted in the affected areas, including restrictions on Advance and peak-time tickets. These restrictions will be reinstated once the disruption ends.

Passengers have also been warned that other train operators may be affected and are advised to check their entire journey before setting off. Network Rail staff continue to work to resolve the overhead wire damage, with disruption expected until at least 10am on Monday, October 26.

What Northern has said

Northern Rail said: “Please check before you travel, as Storms Austen and Boelo are expected to affect train services across our network. Strong winds can bring trees, branches and other debris onto the railway, which can affect train services and make journeys less reliable than usual.

“To help keep you moving safely, we are making some changes to services from Friday 23 October to Monday 26 October. If you are planning to travel on these dates, please check your journey before setting off and allow extra time, as some services may be amended or subject to short-notice changes.

“We know these changes can make travelling more difficult, and we will continue to monitor conditions closely throughout the storms. Please check your journey before travelling. We know many of you still need to travel, and we’ll keep you updated to help you plan your journey.”