Media centre

Thursday 9 Mar 2023

Railway teams to keep passengers on the move during heavy snow

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Rail passengers are being advised to check before they travel during heavy snowfall in parts of the North West.

Travel disruption is possible this evening (Thursday 9 March) and overnight with an amber weather warning in place from the Met Office.

This could impact rail travel on some rural routes in the Peak District, across the Pennines between Manchester and Leeds and in Cumbria.

Merseyrail has also cancelled its first services tomorrow morning to allow for electric rails to be cleared from ice so power isn't lost for trains.

Elsewhere, Network Rail teams are on standby across the region to do their best to clear the railway from snow and ice so all train operators can safely run a service.

Hundreds of staff armed with specialist kit will defrost frozen points and signals, and trains with snow ploughs will be used to clear tracks where needed.

Passengers are being urged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk to see if their train is running before they set off from the warmth of home.

Paul Owen, Network Rail’s North West route operations director, said: “Careful planning for the winter months means we have measures in place to help keep trains and passengers moving during cold snaps.

“Our fleet of snow plough trains and dedicated teams will help clear ice and snow and deal with rail issues should they arise.

“To be prepared, I would urge passengers to always plan their journeys and check before they travel for the latest information.”

Paul Staples, TransPennine Express fleet director, said: “Our number one priority is to keep our customers and colleagues safe, and we will be doing all we can to keep people moving in difficult conditions.

“We are urging customers to check carefully before any travel and to consider if journeys are necessary. If you do have to travel leave plenty of time for journeys, and check www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/weather-warning for the latest updates.”

The railway is no different from other modes of transport in being affected by winter weather, including snow and ice.

Cold weather can impact on rail services in a number of ways, including:

• causing points and mechanical signals to freeze
• snow and ice blocking points, limiting the ability for trains to use certain routes
• ice forming on overhead power lines, affecting power supplies
• falling snow and sleet can reduce drivers' visibility of line side signs and signals, meaning trains have to travel more slowly.

For the latest travel information please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

More details on how Network Rail handles snow and ice can be found here: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/delays-explained/snow-and-ice/