The Hope Valley line is to close from 6pm today
Rail passengers are bracing for widespread disruption due to the snow today(Image: PA)
The main railway line between Manchester and Sheffield will close for more than 24 hours later today as the UK braces for Storm Goretti. Amber weather warnings have been issued for large parts of the country amid forecasts of heavy snowfall and strong winds.
As much as 30cm of snow could fall in the Midlands while gusts of up to 90mph could batter more exposed areas. The Met Office has warned there is a possibility of power cuts, rail and road closures and a potential risk to life and property.
The Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield will close from 6pm today until the end of tomorrow, rail companies have warned, while several local services in the area will be also be cancelled. Network Rail regional director Jake Kelly said thousands of members of staff will do ‘everything they can to keep the railway running’ but ‘we are concerned that the scale of the storm means there may still be some disruption’.
Here’s how the weather is affecting trains across Greater Manchester and the north west…
TransPennine
The Hope Valley line between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield will be closed from 6pm today until the end of the day tomorrow. That means the Liverpool Lime Street to Cleethorpes service will only run between Lime Street and Manchester Oxford Road and between Sheffield and Cleethorpes.
No replacement bus service will be offered. Affected passengers can use their tickets before 6pm today, or on Saturday and Sunday. They can also use Northern and East Midlands trains until 6pm.
East Midlands
East Midlands trains between Manchester and Sheffield will also be cancelled due to the Hope Valley line closure. The last East Midlands train to Manchester leaves Sheffield at 1.43pm today, while the last service from Liverpool will be the 3.51pm from Lime Street.
Passengers can use other services, including Northern and Transpennine trains, before 6pm today and on Saturday.
Northern
Trains between Guide Bridge and Glossop/Hadfield, Hazel Grove and Buxton and New Mills Central and Sheffield will be suspended from 6pm today until the end of tomorrow. There won’t be replacement bus service so passengers on those routes are ‘strongly advised’ not to travel.
Elsewhere the company warns trains that do run may be delayed or cancelled at late notice.
Avanti West Coast
Avanti, which operates the main Manchester to London service, says it will be running fewer trains on some of its routes from 3pm. The company has also warned passengers that trains that do run may be delayed, cancelled or altered at late notice due to the severe weather.
Avanti says it ‘strongly recommends’ travelling earlier in the day if you’re able to, before the worst of the weather kicks in.
CrossCounty
From 3pm today the frequency of the CrossCountry service between Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street will be reduced. Again passengers are advised to travel earlier in the day if possible.
Transport for Wales
There will be widespread disruption on Transport for Wales trains from 3pm today, with several lines closed or running a reduced service. The company warns disruption is expected between Manchester and Chester, but adds ‘we don’t have any additional information as of yet’.