Passengers face 'severe delays' in Manchester due to flooding on railway lines

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Travellers have been facing 'severe delays' on trains throughout the day due to flooding on railway lines in Manchester. A burst water main caused the tracks to become completely flooded at Audenshaw.

Train services have been cancelled in both directions between Manchester Piccadilly, Rose Hill and Hadfield, which included Stalybridge and Leeds services via Guide Bridge. Network Rail ground all the trains to a halt due to the severe flooding, which first began covering the lines near Fairfield in the early hours of the morning.

The flooding also had a severe impact on TransPennine Express services as far as Hull and into Yorkshire. Rail replacement buses were running between Guide Bridge and Manchester Piccadilly in both directions.

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Network Rail said it is working closely with water company United Utilities as it tries to get the leak under control so railway lines can reopen as soon as possible.

Chris Pye, Network Rail’s North West infrastructure director, said: “We’re sorry to passengers impacted by this burst water main and we’re assisting United Utilities as they work hard to get to the bottom of the fault and get it fixed so trains can run again.

“I’d please ask people planning on travelling on the Glossop Line and between Manchester and Leeds via Stalybridge today to check National Rail Enquiries before they set off on their journey today as this is causing severe disruption.”

And Phil Sweeney, head of central operations for United Utilities, said: “Our teams are working closely with Network Rail to resolve the issue as quickly and as safely as possible whilst maintaining water supplies to customers in the area.