Major disruption at Chester expected until the end of service 

Route(s) affected

Avanti West Coast between London Euston and Holyhead, and between Crewe and Chester

Northern between Manchester Piccadilly / Manchester Victoria / Leeds and Chester

Transport for Wales between Llandudno and Liverpool Lime Street, and between Manchester Airport and Holyhead, and also between Crewe and Shrewsbury

Description

A fault with the signalling system in the Delamere area means some lines are blocked. Trains running to / from Chester may be cancelled, delayed by up to 120 minutes or revised.

Major disruption is expected until the end of service.

Avanti West Coast customer advice:

You can use your ticket at no extra cost on rail replacement coaches between Chester and Birmingham New Street via Crewe in this direction only, and also between Crewe and Holyhead in this direction only.

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.

Northern customer advice:

How does this affect my journey?

Train services are unable to run to and from Chester (in both directions).

Services on the following routes will be affected by this disruption:

• Between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester

• Between Manchester Victoria and Chester

What should I do?

You can also travel on Bee Network bus services at no extra cost on the following buses: 11 / 284 / 285 / 370 / 371.

You can also use Transport for Wales services between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester at no extra cost.

Please note that other train operators may also be affected by disruption – please check your whole journey before travelling.

Northern train ticket restrictions have been lifted in the affected areas, including Advance and Peak restrictions, during this disruption. Restrictions will be reinstated once the disruption ends.

Replacement transport:

Road transport will be operated by Solomon Travel, Premier Minibus and Bestway as follows:

• At 21:45 from Greenbank to Chester, calling at Cuddington, Delamere, Mouldsworth and Chester

• At 22:00 and 23:00 from Chester to Greenbank, calling at Mouldsworth, Delamere, Cuddington and Greenbank

• At 21:30 from Manchester Victoria, calling at Eccles, Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown, Warrington Bank Quay, Runcorn East, Frodsham and Chester

• At 22:30 from Chester, calling at Warrington Bank Quay, Earlestown, Newton-le-Willows and Manchester Victoria. The bus will then drop customers off as required to stations to Leeds

Please check station information posters for the location of the bus pick up points and be advised that bicycles, e-bikes and dogs (except for service dogs) are not permitted on replacement road transport.

Journey times may be extended by up to 60 minutes whilst travelling by road transport.

Transport for Wales customer advice:

Transport for Wales have limited road transport at Chester running between Chester and Warrington Bank Quay in both directions, to help you complete your journey, at no extra cost.

Road transport will take longer than rail services. Please allow extra time to complete your journey.

Your ticket can be used on the following alternative routes to help you complete your journey, at no extra cost:

Customers at Chester for Manchester Piccadilly are advised to travel via Crewe.

• Avanti West Coast between Liverpool Lime Street / Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe

• London Northwestern Railway between Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe

• Merseyrail between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester

• Northern between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.

You can find the pick-up and drop-off location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.

Compensation:

You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.