TransPennine Express (TPE) are advising their customers in the North and into Scotland to plan ahead of travelling while engineering work takes place.
Network Rail will be carrying out the major work after Christmas and into the New Year. This work will impact TransPennine Express services between 27th December and 2nd January across multiple parts of the network.
This will result in significant changes to services with fewer trains running and rail replacement services on some routes.
Customers who plan to travel by rail during the disrupted time are urged to plan ahead and allow for extra time.
Those looking to travel between Scotland and Manchester/Liverpool via Preston on New Year’s Day should only travel if absolutely essential due to major changes to services.
Further action has also been announced by RMT on the 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th December and 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th January. If this goes ahead, there will be major disruption for customers.
TransPennine Express services will finish earlier on Christmas Eve and none running on Christmas Day and Boxing Day as usual. Services will resume with a later start on the 27th December.
Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Service and Operations Director for TransPennine Express said: “The engineering work being carried out in multiple locations across the North by Network Rail over the festive period is key to maintaining the railway for all those that use it.
“We’ve worked closely with Network Rail and other train operators to keep as many customers moving as possible, as we know many rely on our services to see friends and family at this time of year, however these works will have a big impact on our services, with significant changes for many.
“I would urge anyone planning on using the train between 27 December and 2 January to check their journey very carefully ahead of time, and to allow plenty of extra time if travelling – with those intending to travel between Scotland and Liverpool/Manchester on New Year’s Day 1 January) urged to do so only if their journey is absolutely necessary.”
Responses
How will we tell the difference? This service is always disrupted.
No need for TPE to bother, the ludite train unions have got the message across that there is no point using rail at Christmas or should I add that these union members have got the message across that there will be little point using it ever again.