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Wednesday 28 Jan 2015

Snow forecast: Yorkshire rail passengers advised to check before you travel

Region & Route:

Some rail services will be restricted in West Yorkshire on the morning of Thursday (29 January) as the rail industry responds to forecasts of deep snow.

The current forecast is predicting up to 15cm of snow from this evening to mid- morning tomorrow. In order to protect the best possible service for all passengers a limited number of trains in West Yorkshire and the Calder Valley won’t run and others will be diverted during the morning of 29 January.

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail said: “Additional staff will be on duty tonight and into the morning to minimise the impact of the weather upon services. We are checking essential equipment such as points heaters and will be running snow clearing trains overnight.

“With heavy snow forecast some disruption is likely. That can have a knock-on effect around the network as trains and staff are in the wrong place for the timetable. By working with the operators to slightly restrict some services we help to minimise any knock-on disruption to the busiest trains and will be able to recover a full service much more quickly.

“Please check your journey details before you travel, leave plenty of time for your journey and allow extra time to get to and from your station.”

Planned changes to First Trans-Pennine Express service are:

• Three trains each hour in both directions between Manchester and York (usually four an hour)
• Four trains each hour in both directions between Manchester and Leeds (usually five per hour)

Northern Rail changes to service are:

• 0550 Hebden Bridge – Leeds will start from Halifax and 0606 (first service from Hebden Bridge at 0622 and Sowerby Bridge 0628)
• 0611 Blackpool North – York will call additionally at Mytholmroyd at 0737
• 0615 Marsden – Leeds will start from Huddersfield (first service from Marsden at 0658 and Slaithwaite 0702)
• 0637 Leeds – Hebden Bridge will terminate at Halifax
• 0739 Hebden Bridge – Leeds via Dewsbury will start from Brighouse at 0805

All other services are planned to run as advertised though there may be some minor delay due to the poor weather.

The latest service information will be available on National Rail Enquiries or 08457 48 49 50 or Live Travel updates from First Trans-Pennine Express and northernrail.org