Train operating company, Northern Rail, has announced major changes to its timetable to help reduce last minute cancellations.
Starting from Monday 4th June 2018, 6% of daily train services will be removed from the timetable until the end of July.
6% equates to 165 trains out of the normal 2,800 train services being removed. The temporary timetable enables Northern to start to stabilise the service levels over the next few weeks.
In the short term, fewer trains will be running, but more than Northern did before the May timetable change.
If you are travelling, please do expect changes to your journey, plan ahead to make sure you get to where you are going.
What areas are affected?
Lakes Line
For at least two weeks, Northern are removing all services on the Lakes Line from Preston to Lancaster and Oxenholme and will be operating a Rail Replacement Bus (RRB) service.
Blackpool
Northern are reducing the services between Blackpool South and Colne, which runs via Kirkham & Wesham, Preston, Cherry Tree, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley Central and Nelson. They will also be removing some of the off-peak services between Blackpool Northern and Manchester Airport. All other services between Blackpool North and Manchester Picadilly will start and terminate at Manchester Oxford Road.
Lancashire
There will be a service reduction between Ormskirk and Preston and a small number of trains removed between Blackburn and Southport via Manchester Victoria. Many train services between Lancaster and Morecambe will be removed.
Manchester
Northern will be reducing services on the Kirkby to Manchester Victoria via Wigan line, and the number of trains operating between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge will be reduced.
Liverpool City Region
As all the removals take place, there is also the closure of Liverpool Lime Street for two months to take into account. Just three trains an hour will be operating between Liverpool and Wigan and Manchester Victoria.
You can see if your local station is affecting by clicking the link at the bottom of this article.
What did the officials say?
David Brown, Managing Director, Northern said:
“We have been experiencing some significant disruption to train services, especially around north Manchester, Bolton, Liverpool, Blackpool and up to the Lake District. I'd like to apologise for this unacceptable situation and for the disruption and inconvenience many passengers have faced. We're truly sorry for this and are working hard to fix this.
David added: “Again I would like to apologise on behalf of Northern for the unacceptable service many customers have been subject to. We are absolutely committed to resolving the service issues, and the interim plan will help ensure we start to get back on track and start to give customers more certainty around the services we operate.
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