Major disruption at Manchester Piccadilly after damage to overhead wires

Passengers have had their travel plans disrupted as services are being cancelled or severely delayed at Manchester Piccadilly Station.

Network Rail says that there has been some damage to overhead electric wires at the station, which has forced the closure of some lines.

As a result, trains running to or from the station may be cancelled or severely delayed by up to 60 minutes, with major disruption expected until the end of the day.

Manchester Piccadilly says its engineers are on site working to resolve the overhead wire damage.

“We are sorry to passengers for the disruption this has caused and we are working to get people moving as soon as possible,” the station said on X.

The issue started causing disruption just before midday. In an update just before 2pm, the station said most trains in and out of Piccadilly will be delayed or cancelled.

Most operators are allowing affected customers to use their tickets at no extra cost on reasonable routes with other companies to help them get where they need to be.

Avanti West Coast said it is currently not calling at Piccadilly, but tickets for travel today will be vaild for travel tomorrow at no extra cost.

CrossCountry has told its customers that rail replacement transport is in operation between Manchester Piccadilly and Macclesfield (operated by Bestway, Zan Travel and Amans Travel).

Northern has advised passengers not to travel on its Piccadilly routes to Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Hadfield, Buxton and Chester. It added that no replacement buses are running for the routes either.

TransPennine Express says some of its routes are also subject to delay and short-notice cancellations, including services to and from Piccadilly as well as Manchester airport.

Transport for Wales told passengers that services between Crewe and Piccadilly are terminating at Wilmslow, but services to Manchester airport are returning to normal. Buses have been organised between Piccadilly and Wilmslow.

Passengers are being advised to check the status of their train before they travel and see if they are entitled to any compensation due to delay.