Major disruption at Manchester Victoria until further notice

Major disruption at Manchester Victoria until further notice

Following the tragic events that occurred at Manchester Arena on Monday night, Manchester Victoria station is closed and no trains will operate to or from the station, due to its proximity to the arena.

Manchester Victoria is expected to remain closed for the next few days whilst the police investigation continues.

Trains will not run to / from and through Manchester Victoria. Trains will be diverted, cancelled or start / terminate at alternative stations.

You are advised to avoid the Manchester Victoria / Manchester Arena area. Please follow instructions from staff and emergency services.

Advice for Northern customers:
Northern will operate services on the following routes to replace those which would normally call at Manchester Victoria:

• Leeds – Manchester Victoria: Trains will start and terminate at Rochdale. A replacement bus service will run between Rochdale and Manchester Piccadilly calling at all intermediate stations
• Huddersfield – Manchester Victoria: Trains will start and terminate at Stalybridge. A replacement bus service will run between Stalybridge and Manchester Piccadilly calling at Ashton-under-Lyne.
• Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Victoria: Trains will start and terminate at Manchester Oxford Road.
• Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Airport: A reduced service will run on this route.
• Southport – Manchester Airport: These services will start and terminate at Manchester Piccadilly and run to Southport via Bolton, calling additionally at all stations between Bolton and Manchester Piccadilly.
• Kirkby – Manchester Victoria: Trains will run between Wigan Wallgate and Kirkby only.
• Wigan Wallgate - Manchester Victoria: Trains will start and terminate at Salford Central.
• Blackpool North – Hazel Grove: The majority of these through services are cancelled.
• Blackpool North – Manchester Victoria: Trains will start and terminate at Manchester Oxford Road.
• Blackpool North – Manchester Airport: A reduced service will run on this route.
• Clitheroe – Manchester Victoria: Trains will run between Clitheroe and Bolton only.

You may use your ticket on Metrolink, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains and Virgin Trains via any reasonable route. Metrolink trams will not call or operate through Market Street, Shudehill or Manchester Victoria.

You may also use Stagecoach buses between Stalybridge and Manchester on routes 231, 216, 236 and 237.

Normal services will run into and out of Manchester Piccadilly to and from all south Manchester destinations.

Advice for TransPennine Express customers:
Trains between Liverpool Lime Street and Newcastle will be diverted to start / terminate at Manchester Piccadilly, not running between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool Lime Street. Passengers should use alternative trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street.

You may use your ticket on CrossCountry, Virgin Trains East Coast, East Midlands Trains and Northern via any reasonable route.

TransPennine Express services between Scarborough and Liverpool Lime Street will operate as normal.

TransPennine Express customers with Advance tickets to and from Manchester are permitted to travel on alternative services until Sunday 28 May. Customers are advised to travel as close to their original booked time as possible on the day of travel and reminded that if they do decide to travel at an alternative time then seat reservations will not apply.

TransPennine Express customers wishing to re-evaluate their travel plans may apply for a full refund, without any administration fee, on all ticket types.

Advice for customers travelling to and from Manchester with other train companies:

CrossCountry are allowing customers with pre-booked tickets to and from Manchester to travel at any time until Sunday 28 May. Please travel as close to the booked train time as possible on the alternative travel day. Customers booked to travel to or from Manchester in the next 12 weeks, and decide not to travel, may apply for a full refund without any administration fee on all ticket types.

Arriva Trains Wales will be accepting specific Advance tickets from Manchester dated for Tuesday 23 or Wednesday 24 May for travel until the end of today, 25 May. If you had an Advance ticket to get home from the concert, then please don’t worry about it not being honoured on other trains. Please stick to your booked train time where possible if you do not wish to travel on the original booked date.

For all up to date information please go to National Rail Enquiries website at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx

RDG Travel Agents Team