Update on rail disruption between Wigan and Preston
Damaged overhead power lines have caused major delays
Passengers travelling between Wigan North Western and Preston stations on the West Coast Main Line are being advised to check before they travel because of damaged overhead power lines.
Network Rail engineers are working as fast as they can to fix the 25,000-volt overhead cables near Coppull, Lancashire, after they came down earlier today (Monday 29 April).
No trains are able to run in either direction on the West Coast Main Line between Wigan North Western and Preston. Trains are being diverted where possible, but delays and cancellations are expected. Disruption is expected for the rest of the day.
Kara Wood, Network Rail’s acting North West route strategy director, said: “We’re sorry to passengers affected by the problems with the overhead power lines in Coppull. We have specialist repair teams on site working as fast as they can to fix the cables and restore power so trains can safely run again through the area.
“Disruption is expected for the rest of the day so we’re urging people to plan their journeys and check before they travel with their train operator or National Rail Enquiries.”
Work will take place throughout the day to reopen the line as soon as possible.
Investigations into what caused the overhead lines to be brought down are ongoing. First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Hits Radio app.