Rail company Northern has told passengers not to travel this Sunday on some routes – with passengers on some other routes told to expect ‘high numbers of cancellations’.

The rail company has told passengers to ‘plan ahead’ for the company’s lack of services.

Passengers advised ‘do not travel’ on these routes

This week, the company – which is owned by a Department for Transport holding company – has told passengers to avoid travelling on the following routes:

  • Manchester Victoria – Stalybridge
  • Preston – Colne
  • Manchester Victoria – Chester
  • Manchester Piccadilly – Stoke on Trent

Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox.

High cancellations on these routes

Passengers have also been warned to expect a high number of cancellations on the following routes:

  • Manchester Piccadilly – Crewe
  • Manchester Victoria – Southport
  • Windermere – Oxenholme
  • Wigan – Preston

Follow The Bolton News on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and TikTok.

More disruption for Bolton passengers

The announcement will not be welcomed by Boltonians, who have endured several weekends of disruption to their rail service this year.

The Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge route also calls at Bolton, Farnworth, and Salford Crescent – meaning passengers may be left with shortened services that do not take them to their final destination.

Last week, passengers from Farnworth and Westhoughton were particularly disrupted as all routes from the two stations were subject to a ‘do not travel’ warning.

Northern says ‘plan ahead’

A spokesperson for Northern said: “We encourage everyone to plan ahead and check journeys before travelling on Sunday 6 October, particularly if that journey involves the last trains of the day, which may be earlier than usual and may be cancelled at short notice.

“Our colleagues are working hard to keep journey planners up to date, but we advise to check closer to the time of travel.”

Refunds available

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, 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

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