Media centre

Wednesday 7 Jan 2026

Storm Goretti: Passengers in West Midlands advised to check before travelling

Region & Route:

North West & Central

Passengers across the West Midlands and surrounding areas have been advised to check before they travel over the coming days as Storm Goretti is expected to bring heavy snow and strong winds, meaning changes to train services.

The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for snow, which begin tomorrow afternoon (Thursday 8 January) and cover large areas of the West Midlands. These conditions will continue into Friday 9 January and some areas could experience up to 30cm of snow. 

From 7pm on Thursday, some trains across the West Midlands will run on a reduced timetable and passengers should take extra care and plan their journeys in advance. 

Network Rail teams are actively preparing by treating tracks and station surfaces and will be keeping points clear of snow when the storm arrives.

Martin Colmey, operations director for Network Rail Central route, said: “Our teams are working hard alongside our train operator partners to prepare the rail network for this weather.

"The safety of passengers and colleagues is our priority and a reduced timetable has been implemented so that we can continue to safely run trains for essential journeys. I would urge passengers to check before they travel as there will be disruption to services during the extreme weather.” 

Snow and ice can make it difficult for trains to run safely. In very cold weather, snow and ice can build up on the tracks blocking points, the equipment that allows trains to move between tracks. 

Ice can coat the overhead power cables, preventing trains from drawing the power they need to run and leaving them stranded. Icicles on tunnels, bridges and other structures can also damage trains and overhead power cables.

For up-to-date travel information and detail on alternative travel please check www.nationalrail.co.uk.