Disruption between Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe / Macclesfield expected until the end of the day  

Route(s) affected

between Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe / Macclesfield

Description

A trespass incident in the Kidsgrove area means that all lines are blocked. As a result, trains running between Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe / Macclesfield will be delayed, diverted or cancelled.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Avanti West Coast customer advice:

Services may be diverted via Crewe, where this happens Macclesfield and Stoke-On-Trent will not be served.

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 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.

Customers at Macclesfield who wish to travel tomorrow can use their ticket dated 23/01/2026.

Northern customer advice:

Northern tickets may be used at no additional cost on East Midlands Railway services between Stoke-On-Trent and Crewe until the end of the day.

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.

Rail replacement transport has been arranged to run as follows:

• One full size bus to depart Congleton at 22:30 calling at Kidsgrove and Stoke-On-Trent (operated by Ocean Travel)

• Four 16 seater buses will depart Macclesfield 22:30 calling at Congleton, Kidsgrove and Stoke-On-Trent (operated by RSZ)

• One full size bus will depart Macclesfield 22:30 calling at Congleton, Kidsgrove and Stoke-On-Trent (operated by Atlantic Travel)

• One full size bus will depart Stoke-On-Trent 22:50 calling at Kidsgrove, Congleton, Macclesfield then as required through to Manchester Piccadilly

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

Journey times will be extended by up to 60 minutes when using road replacement transport.

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 set-down 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.