Train operator Northern has issued a ‘do not travel' warning for rail passengers in Bolton – with those travelling from Farnworth and Westhoughton particularly disrupted.

The rail operator says it is advising customers not to travel on Sunday, September 29, on some routes ‘due to train crew being unavailable’.

Those travelling on Northern services on the following routes have been advised not to travel:

  • Manchester Victoria and Chester via Warrington Bank Quay.
  • Wigan North Western and Stalybridge.
  • Manchester Piccadilly and Chester via Altrincham.
  • Manchester Piccadilly and Stoke.
  • Liverpool Lime Street and Blackpool North via Wigan.

Stations served on the Wigan North Western and Stalybridge route include Westhoughton, Bolton, and Farnworth.

All routes from Westhoughton and Farnworth are affected by the ‘do not travel’ warning.

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It comes three weeks after a similar ‘do not travel’ warnings have been put in place earlier this month, including on one route on Sunday, September 22, three routes on Sunday, September 15, and five routes on Sunday, September 8.

On the company’s website, Northern says: “Recently, our performance and reliability have not been up to scratch and for that we are sorry.

“We are working hard to improve service reliability.”

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Those with Northern tickets whose train is cancelled can claim a full refund – and those who are delayed may be entitled to compensation through the company’s ‘delay repay’ scheme, differing depending on the length of delay suffered.

Additionally, since September 22, a ticket acceptance agreement is in place for routes in the North West affected by Sunday cancellations.

If a Northern train has been cancelled and no other Northern train departs on your route within an hour of the scheduled time, you may use your ticket on TransPennine Express, itself also owned by the Department for Transport, or Transport for Wales services on the following routes:

TransPennine Express

  • Liverpool – Manchester
  • Liverpool – Preston
  • Manchester – Stalybridge
  • Manchester – Stockport – Sheffield
  • Oxenholme – Preston – Manchester – Manchester Airport

Transport for Wales

  • Manchester – Chester, Manchester – Crewe

A spokesperson for Northern said: “We are advising customers to check their journey before travelling in the North West on Sunday 29 September due to expected cancellations caused by train crew unavailability.

“Our operational colleagues are working hard to keep journey planners up to date, but customers should check closer to the time of travel."

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.