Avanti issue ‘do not travel’ warning on West Coast with ‘extremely limited service’

Passengers heading between Greater Manchester and Scotland are being urged to rethink their plans. Both Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express are warning travellers not to travel by train north of Preston this morning (May 30).

It comes after a freight train derailment between Oxenholme and Penrith, in Cumbria, according to Avanti. TransPennine Express says there is ‘an extremely limited train service’ on the line and ‘difficulty in sourcing road transport’.

The warning affects passengers on the West Coast Mainline – linking Greater Manchester to Lancashire, Cumbria, Glasgow and Edinburgh. In a series of posts on X, an Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “Do not travel north of Preston.

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“Services between between Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith have been cancelled due to a freight train derailment blocking the line. Please do not attempt to travel with us between Preston and Scotland today.

“Customers with tickets dated yesterday, Wednesday, May 29, and today Thursday, May 30, can use their Avanti West Coast tickets tomorrow, Friday, May 31, at any time via the same route. Ticket acceptance is in place with LNER between Edinburgh and London Kings Cross; CrossCountry between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street; TransPennine Express via any reasonable route; ScotRail between Glasgow and Edinburgh. All in both directions until further notice.”

In further posts on X, a TransPennine Express spokesperson added: “Due to severe disruption on the West Coast Main Line, customers travelling north of Preston are advised NOT to travel. This is due to an extremely limited train service as well as difficulty in sourcing road transport.

“TransPennine Express passengers with tickets dated May 29, 2024 may use their tickets on today’s services. TransPennine Express passengers with tickets dated May 30, 2024 may use their tickets on services tomorrow, May 31, 2024.

“TransPennine Express Ticket holders may travel on the following: Northern services between Liverpool, Manchester Airport and Preston in both direction; TransPennine Express services between Edinburgh and Newcastle as well as between Newcastle and Manchester; CrossCountry services between Edinburgh and York in both directions; LNER services between Edinburgh and York in both directions; ScotRail services between Glasgow and Edinburgh in both directions until 1200.”