Train disruption lines Manchester: cancellations and delays
An electricity supply failure near Preston disrupted rail services between Preston and Bolton, affecting Northern and TransPennine Express routes to Manchester…
An electricity failure near Preston disrupted rail journeys into Manchester on Tuesday, affecting routes used by passengers travelling to Manchester Airport. Train disruption lines Manchester continued after the tracks reopened, with National Rail warning that services could still be cancelled, revised or delayed by up to 45 minutes until 3pm.
The blocked section ran between Preston and Bolton. Northern and TransPennine Express services were affected, including routes connecting Manchester Airport with destinations in Scotland and the North West.
Lines reopened, but delays continued
The lines reopened at around 9.30am, according to the Manchester Evening News. The disruption began after a problem with overhead power lines near Preston, which the outlet described as an electricity supply failure.
National Rail said: “All lines have now reopened following an earlier failure of the electricity supply in the Preston area. Trains between Preston and Bolton may continue to be cancelled, revised or delayed by up to 45 minutes. Disruption is expected until 15:00.”
The reopening did not immediately restore normal service. Northern said its routes linking Millom, Barrow-in-Furness, Windermere and Blackpool North with Manchester Airport were affected. TransPennine Express warned that services between Manchester Airport and Glasgow Central, and between the airport and Edinburgh, could be delayed or diverted.
Some trains between Manchester Airport and Blackpool North were cancelled. Other services could travel between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly by a diversion that would not call at Bolton, according to the live updates published by the Manchester Evening News.
Alternative travel and ticket advice
Passengers with tickets for affected journeys were allowed to use specified alternatives at no extra cost. Northern rail replacement buses were available between Preston and Bolton, while Avanti West Coast services between Preston and Wigan North Western could be used, with connections at Wigan for Manchester stations.
TransPennine Express tickets could also be used between Preston and Manchester Airport. The Manchester Evening News reported that ticket restrictions on Northern services in affected areas, including Advance and Peak restrictions, had been lifted during the disruption. The restrictions were due to return once the disruption ended.
Bee Network buses were another permitted option on listed routes. The affected alternatives included services 8, 35, 36, 37, 38, 50, 51 and 132, alongside a longer set of routes identified in the operator updates. Passengers were told to check their entire journey because other train operators could also be affected.
That advice matters for people connecting to flights or travelling between towns along the Preston-Bolton corridor: a line reopening does not guarantee that a planned train will run or arrive on time. The reported delays, cancellations and diversions could require passengers to change services or use replacement transport, while the no-extra-cost arrangements offered alternatives for some journeys.
Network Rail, which runs Manchester Piccadilly station, apologised to affected passengers in a post on X. “Sorry to passengers impacted by the damage to the overhead power lines near Preston. We are working hard to get all lines open again. Please keep updated via train operators and @nationalrailenq before you start your journey.”
National Rail’s stated disruption window ran until 15:00, with possible delays of up to 45 minutes.
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
