UK trains cancelled: Commuters braced for Friday delays after power outage

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Passengers on Avanti West Coast trains have been warned of "short-notice cancellations" to services.

It stated: "This Friday, we're seeing some short-notice cancellations on our network, so please check your journey before you travel. We're really sorry if this affects you and your journey, but we're working hard to make sure we can minimise these cancellations.

"If you've already booked and your journey is impacted, we'll be in touch to let you know your options. Trains are likely to be busy, so please do check before you travel at the link below.

If your train is cancelled, your ticket is valid on one of the two Avanti West Coast services immediately before your booked train, or one of the two immediately after. If your journey's delayed 15 minutes or more, you can claim compensation at delayrepay.avantiwestcoast.co.uk. If you no longer wish to travel because your train's delayed or cancelled, you can request a full refund from where you bought your ticket."

Northern is urging passengers to check their trains for disruption today.

"Please check before you travel. Some services will be amended, delayed or may not run at all... We are sorry for the impact this may have on your journey and thank you for your patience while teams work to restore services," it told customers.

It also said: A failure of the electricity supply at a communications centre means trains across the Greater Manchester and North West area of England are being disrupted.

"Train services in the Greater Manchester and North West of England areas will be cancelled, delayed or revised. Engineers are working hard to restore the issue and we are hopeful that train services will return to normal today.

"Customers are strongly advised to avoid travelling before 10:00 today if possible."

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Passengers at Liverpool Lime Street Station(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Network Rail has thanked commuters for their response to yesterday's disruption.

Chris Wright, Network Rail's North West route director, said: "I'd like to thank passengers for their patience following yesterday's power outage and the disruption it caused across the North West.

"Our engineers worked through the night to restore signalling systems and recover the railway, and I'm pleased that most services are now running this morning.

"While some passengers may still experience disruption, we're continuing to work closely with train operators to return services to normal as quickly as possible.

"Anyone planning to travel this morning should continue to check before they travel for the latest information."

Electricity distribution company SP Electricity North Wests website states that a power cut in Harpurhey, which is north-east of the city centre, affected more than 400 postcodes, including that of the Manchester Rail Operating Centre.

It said: The power cut in your area caused by an unexpected incident on our high voltage cable has now been resolved.

Chris Wright, Network Rails North West route director, said: Id like to thank passengers for their patience following yesterdays power outage and the disruption it caused across the North West.

Our engineers worked through the night to restore signalling systems and recover the railway, and Im pleased that most services are now running this morning.

While some passengers may still experience disruption, were continuing to work closely with train operators to return services to normal as quickly as possible. Anyone planning to travel this morning should continue to check before they travel for the latest information.

Operators whose services remain affected on Friday morning are Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE) and Transport for Wales.

Northern said its do not travel alert first issued on Thursday afternoon would remain in place until 10am on Friday, as some services will be amended and may not be able to run at all.

TPE urged passengers to please check carefully before any travel on Friday morning.

Various ticket restrictions have been eased to help passengers get to where they need to go.

Train tickets are being accepted on Bee Network buses and Metrolink trams in Greater Manchester.

TransPennine Express passengers have been told that there will be a "reduced train service" until 10am and there may be further disruption this morning.

It states on X: "Following a power failure yesterday (06/08/26) that affected the railway across the Greater Manchester and North West area, a reduced train service will operate until 10:00 today (07/08/26).

"Services across the TransPennine Express network may be delayed or cancelled at short notice, and may be until 12:00 07/08."

Train passengers have been warned that chaos in the north west of England is expected to continue until midday.

National Rail said an electrical supply failure yesterday caused sections of railway lines to to be shut down and although trains are back running, trains and their crew are "now in the wrong locations for the start of service today".

A statement continued: "This means that some trains are still expected to be affected this morning. Trains across the Greater Manchester area and North West of England may still be cancelled in full or revised to only run for part of their normal journey until service is able to fully recover."

And it added that disruption is "expected until 12:00"

The advice from Transport for Wales, which previously said coaches would be put on from Liverpool to Chester, has now removed any mention of the alternative arrangements.

Instead, the advice to passengers simply says: "If you have a ticket dated for travel yesterday (Thursday 6 August) you may use this to travel today at no extra cost."

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(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

As we approach the busiest part of the morning commute, passengers have taken to social media to ask if their trains are running. The enquiries are coming thick and fast.

"Travelling after 10 isnt an option for me," said one, enquiring about a Greater Manchester train.

National Rail has just updated its statement to passengers, explaining why there will be chaos when even after the electric's back on.

It said: "There was a failure of the electricity supply at a communications centre yesterday afternoon that caused severe disruption to trains across the Greater Manchester area and the north west of England.

"Although trains are now able to operate, the severity of the disruption that occurred on the network yesterday means that a number of trains and crew are now in the wrong locations for the start of service today."

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A departures board displays delays and cancellations at Liverpool Lime Street station(Image: ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA/Shutterstock)

Northern, which is advising passengers not to travel until 10am, now has a dedicated advice page. If you need to use its network today, it's worth checking on the link below to see the status of your route.

You have to imagine 'VR', who is running the Northern X account this morning, will be busy today.

Lumo, a smaller train firm which operates from London to Scotland, is also listed as an operator affected by the outage.

[The new Lumo trains between London and Scotland]

The new Lumo trains between London and Scotland(Image: FirstGroup)

This was the scene at Liverpool South Parkway station yesterday afternoon, as passnegers tried to work out how to get to their destinations amid the chaos.

[Passengers at Liverpool South Parkway station, as an electricity supply failure causes major disruption to trains]

Passengers at Liverpool South Parkway station, as an electricity supply failure causes major disruption to trains(Image: PA)

But only a few miles away, near Hunts Cross, it was quiet on the rails as no services ran.

[Empty train lines at Hunts Cross railway station in Liverpool]

Empty train lines at Hunts Cross railway station in Liverpool(Image: PA)

Transport for Wales has put buses on to run between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester. These arrangements are in place on services until the end of the day, the company said.

It added: "Road Transport will take longer than rail services. Please allow extra time to complete your journey.

"You can use your ticket at no extra cost on Merseyrail services between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester.

"If you're using pay as you go, don't forget to tap out if you abandon your journey or use an alternative service or mode of transport.

"Check services running in the area using the Transport for Wales live map."

Transpennine Express has told passengers to 'continue to travel as planned' but warned 'your journey may be delayed or cancelled at short notice'.

Its passenger update said: "We strongly advise you check your journey before you travel.

"You can use your ticket at no extra cost in both directions on the following services up until 12:00 today:

• Avanti West Coast services between Edinburgh / Glasgow Central and Preston / Crewe
• Bee Network buses throughout the whole network in Greater Manchester
• CrossCountry services between Sheffield, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh
• LNER services between Doncaster, Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh
• East Midland Railways between Liverpool Lime Street and Sheffield
• Metrolink services between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria / Manchester Airport

"If you have a ticket dated for travel yesterday, Thursday 6 August and decided not to travel you may use your ticket to travel today, Friday 7 August at no extra cost.

"If you are travelling using an Advance Purchase ticket on Friday 7 August, TransPennine Express have relaxed ticket restrictions, and you will be permitted to travel on any TransPennine Express train on your booked route.

"Alternatively, if the train you intended to travel on is cancelled or you are unable to complete your journey then you can apply for a refund from your point of purchase."

Avanti has issued the following advice to passengers: "Your ticket can be used at no extra cost in both directions on:

• TransPennine Express between Edinburgh / Glasgow Central and Preston
• Transport for Wales services between Holyhead and Crewe

"These arrangements are in place until 12:00.

"If your train is cancelled, your ticket is valid on one of the two Avanti West Coast services immediately before your booked train, or one of the two immediately after.

"Off-Peak ticket restrictions have been relaxed during this ongoing disruption.

"If you no longer wish to travel because your train is delayed or cancelled, you can request a full refund from where you bought your ticket."

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said on Thursday afternoon she is receiving regular updates while Network Rail works to resolve what she described as a power outage.

She also warned passengersd to expect disruption.

Ms Alexander added: Disruption is expected during the rest of the day, so please check before you travel.