Lightning damage causes Liverpool train cancellations

Trains going to and from Liverpool face cancellations throughout the day as the region enjoys another day of sun and high temperatures. National Rail said several routes were disrupted on Thursday morning (May 28) after lightning damaged the signalling system between Crewe and Liverpool South Parkway/ Warrington Bank Quay resulting the lines being blocked. This meant trains may be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes. The damage impacted both Avanti West Coast an London Northwestern Railway services.

Trains travelling between London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street/Preston/Blackpool North/Lancaster/Glasgow Central/Edinburgh, and between Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central/Edinburgh, and between Wolverhampton and Glasgow Central, and also between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street /Blackpool North/Glasgow Central were all affected as a result o the damage. The LNR services between Birmingham New Street/Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street are also disrupted. Dramatic photos of the city centre from overnight show the lightning, with people across Merseyside reporting loud thunder and several lightning strikes. Avanti West Coast published the following advice to passengers this morning: "You can use your ticket, at no extra cost, on London Northwestern Railway between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street in both directions.

Please note, London Northwestern Railway services are also likely to impacted by this disruption. "If your train is cancelled, your ticket is valid on one of the two Avanti West Coast services immediately before your booked train, or one of the two immediately after. "If you no longer wish to travel because your train is delayed or cancelled, you can request a full refund from where you bought your ticket." London Northwestern Railway said: "Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on the following services: Avanti West Coast services between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street in both directions. Please note, Avanti West Coast services are also likely to impacted by this disruption Merseyrail and TransPennine Express services between Liverpool South Parkway and Liverpool Lime Street in both directions "Rail replacement transport is in operation between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street in both directions." People have been urged to check the National Rail journey planner before travelling today, with the national train operator expecting disruptions across the network as temperatures are set to exceed 30C today.

A spokesperson for National Rail said: "The Met Office are advising that temperatures today are expected to be unusually warm for the time of year with temperatures again expected to reach 31°C in some parts of Great Britain. "The forecast weather may cause trains to be disrupted. Heat can cause overhead lines to expand and sag, line-side fires and also rails to buckle."