Rail flooding causes transport disruption in Wigan

Three routes on the Northern network near Wigan have been closed due to flooding today (October 6).

These include services between Wigan Wallgate and Southport which were suspended due to flood water on the line at Parbold and New Lane.

Rail replacement road transport have been in operaton with buses leaving Wigan Wallgate on the hour and Southport at half past the hour.

While the route between Wigan and Kirby has been shut due to flooding at Up Holland with rail replacement road transport in use.

Flood water levels on both routes have subsided meaning trains are starting to run on both routes. Delays and cancellatons are still expected and speed restrictons are in place on the Wigan to Southport line.

The Chorley to Adlington line had also been closed because of flooding at Yarrow viaduct. However, that has reduced and services are now operating, though again delays and cancellations are likely.

Wigan Council also tweeted that Wigan Lower Road near the junction of Crooke Village is currently closed in both directions. Teams are on site to clear the surface water and motorsts have been asked to find an alternative route.

Flood water started to rise in the area this morning and, with levels rising above the tracks, meaning it was impossible to run services on the affected routes. Those waters are now beginning to subside.

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “Unfortunately, because of the rising flood water, we were unable to run our usual services on several routes which had - and continues to have - a significant impact on our customers.

“Colleagues from Network Rail have worked hard to reduce the water levels and return rail services to the route.

“As that work continues, I am again calling on our customers to please be patient. Where we can't run trains we will operate buses to keep people on the move, but these will add extra time to usual journeys.”

Delay Repay compensation is available for any customers whose journeys are delayed by 15 minutes or longer this afternoon.

To make a claim visit the Northern website and follow the links to Delay Repay.