Severe weather to cause significant disruption to TransPennine Express West Coast main line services
With severe weather expected in the North West and into Scotland over the next few days, TransPennine Express (TPE) is urging customers not to travel on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) unless absolutely necessary and to instead defer their journey or claim a refund.
Heavy rainfall has been forecast from Wednesday 27th to Friday 29th October 2021 and is likely to cause significant disruption to train services, with a number of speed restrictions being put in place by Network Rail.
As a result of this, TPE will be running a reduced train service on the WCML with trains from Manchester /Liverpool to Edinburgh and Glasgow Central being terminated at Carlisle.
Ticket restrictions have been lifted so that customers with tickets for travel on TPE services between Manchester and Scotland via Preston on Wednesday 27th, Thursday 28th or Friday 29th October are able to travel at any time on TPE services through to Monday 1st November 2021 inclusive.
Full details of ticket relaxations and onward travel options are available at: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/current-major-service-disruption
Customers who choose not to travel will be entitled to a full refund.
Anyone making an essential journey is advised to expect cancellations and delays to services. Those looking to travel to or from Scotland are advised to do so using the East Coast Main Line via York and Newcastle, where additional TPE services have been put in place to help carry passengers. The train company are urging those travelling to allow extra time and check before they begin their journey at: www.nationalrail.co.uk
Matthew Golton, Managing Director for TransPennine Express, said: “It is likely that heavy rainfall and severe weather conditions will cause significant disruption to our West Coast Main Line services over the next few days and we are advising customers not to travel on this route unless their journey is absolutely necessary and to instead defer their travel or claim a refund.
“The safety of our customers is our number one priority, and we will continue to monitor the situation with Network Rail over the next few days. Anyone that experiences a delay may be entitled to compensation with more information available at: www.tpexpress.co.uk/help/delay-repay-compensation.”