Damage to power lines disrupts Virgin Trains services

Severe weather damage to overhead power lines in the Castlethorpe area north of Milton Keynes will severely disrupt Virgin Trains West Coast Mainline services between London Euston and the north for the rest of the day.

Network Rail engineers are working to repair the damage as quickly as possible, but in the meantime, Silverlink Trains will provide a shuttle service between Euston and Milton Keynes from where special coach services will serve Northampton for trains to the north.

One train each hour will run between Northampton and Manchester Piccadilly, calling at Stoke-on- Trent, Macclesfield and Stockport.

One train each hour will run between Northampton and Liverpool Lime Street, calling at Rugby, Nuneaton, Stafford, Crewe and Runcorn.

One train each hour will run between Northampton and Wolverhampton, calling at Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street and Sandwell and Dudley.

One train each hour will run between Northampton and Glasgow Central, calling at Rugby, Nuneaton, Stafford, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle and Motherwell.

Virgin Trains tickets will be accepted by Chiltern Railways between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill, GNER between London Kings Cross, Edinburgh and Glasgow and Midland Main Line between London St Pancras, Derby and Sheffield. Also, tickets will be accepted by First Great Western on reasonable alternative routes.
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Virgin Trains tickets valid for today will be honoured for travel tomorrow, Friday 8 December and Saturday 9 December.

It is hoped that two out of four lines will reopen for start of service tomorrow morning, but regrettably some disruption will be likely. 

Customers are advised to check travel details in advance by phoning National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50, or by visiting the National Rail website at www.nationalrail.co.uk