Trains are expected to face disruption today after a signalling system was damaged by lightning, with services between Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston among those impacted.
Avanti West Coast said there may be cancellations to trains between Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston due to severe weather between Crewe and Runcorn.
Meanwhile there are delays to services between Crewe and Liverpool South Parkway / Warrington Bank Quay. As a result, trains running between these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes.
New UpdatesView PostView PostView PostView PostToday08:09 BST
You can use your ticket, at no extra cost, on London Northwestern Railway between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street in both directions. Please note, London Northwestern Railway services are also likely to impacted by this disruption.
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.
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.
Joe SmithToday08:01 BST
Avanti West Coast said: “Due to lightning damaging equipment at Crewe trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.
“Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 25 minutes. Disruption is expected until 09:00 28/05.
“We’re really sorry if this affects you and your journey today. If your journey’s delayed 15 minutes or more, you can claim compensation at delayrepay.avantiwestcoast.co.uk.
“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. If you no longer wish to travel because your train’s delayed or cancelled, you can request a full refund from where you bought your ticket.
“Disruption may also be affecting other train companies. Check the status of all routes and operators online here.”
Joe SmithToday08:00 BST
Avanti West Coast said: “Due to severe weather between Crewe and Runcorn trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines. Disruption is expected until 12:00 28/05.
“Train services between Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or reduced.
“A lightning strike has caused extensive damage to signalling equipment between Crewe and Runcorn. Cancellations and delays are expected.
“Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on London Northwestern Railway services between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street in both directions until further notice. Mutual ticket acceptance agreed for customers to travel on London Northwestern Railway and Avanti services at no extra cost between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street in both directions.”
Joe SmithToday07:52 BST
A clip posted online shows massive forks of lightning in the night sky over Liverpool, part of the same thunderstorm that damaged signalling equipment in Crewe causing disruption to passengers this morning.
Joe SmithToday07:47 BST
The National Rail website said the following routes are currently affected by disruptions:
- Avanti West Coast between London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street / Preston / Blackpool North / Lancaster / Glasgow Central / Edinburgh, and between Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central / Edinburgh, and between Wolverhampton and Glasgow Central, and also between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street / Blackpool North / Glasgow Central
- London Northwestern Railway between Birmingham New Street / Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street
People are urged to check their journey using the National Rail journey planner before they travel.
Joe SmithToday07:41 BST
Further to the damage caused by the lightning overnight, National Rail is warning people of other disruption throughout the day as temperatures are again expected to exceed 30C, bringing chaos to parts of the rail network.
Heat can cause overhead lines to expand and sag, line-side fires and also rails to buckle, the train operator said.
Joe SmithToday07:36 BST
National Rail said lightning damaging the signalling system between Crewe and Liverpool South Parkway / Warrington Bank Quay means all lines are blocked.
As a result, trains running between these stations may be cancelled or delayed. The company made the statemrnt in a post on X one hour ago.
Avanti West Coast have since said trains are now running again but due to the lightning damaging equipment at Crewe, services have to run at reduced speed on all lines.