Check before you travel

We advise customers to check their journey before travelling particularly in the North West 

Recently, we have seen higher levels of cancellations in the North West and for that we are sorry. The underlying reason is train crew availability, in particular on Sundays which is contractually outside of the working week.

We'll continue to provide as much advance notice as possible when services or routes are impacted. We recommend that you regularly check your journey and this page for the latest information. 

Sunday 17 November

Due to train crew unavailability, there will be some cancellations and alterations to our trains on Sunday. 

We are advising NOT TO TRAVEL on the following routes: 

• Manchester Victoria - Chester (via Warrington)
• Manchester Piccadilly - Stoke-on-Trent
• Manchester Piccadilly - Chester (via Altrincham)
• Wigan North Western - Stalybridge

No alternatives are available for these routes. 

The following routes will have services amended: 

• Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe: last train will be much earlier
• Manchester Piccadilly - Sheffield: last train will be much earlier
• Manchester Piccadilly - Hadfield: fewer trains will run
• Liverpool - Blackpool: will run between Liverpool and Wigan only and the last train will be much earlier
• Todmorden - Southport: fewer trains will run
• Manchester Oxford Road - Liverpool via Warrington Central: fewer trains will run
• Blackpool South - Preston: a replacement bus service will run
• Lancaster - Morecambe / Heysham: a replacement bus service will run

We encourage everyone to plan ahead and check journeys before travelling for the latest information and train times, particularly last trains of the day which may be earlier than usual and may be cancelled at short notice.

If you do travel, please leave yourself plenty of time to do so and don't rely on last trains. 

Trains currently showing may not run, our control teams are working to update the train plan but you should check closer to the time of travel.

National Rail Journey Planner Check Live Trains  Check Timetables 

Travel advice and ticket acceptance

• Everyday: If your Northern train has been cancelled you can travel on other Northern trains before or after your original time (on the same route, valid all day). 
• On Sundays:  If no other Northern train departs on your route within an hour of the scheduled time you will be able to use your train ticket, at no extra cost, with the following train companies and routes: 

Transpennine Express:

• Liverpool – Manchester
• Liverpool – Preston
• Manchester – Stalybridge
• Manchester – Stockport – Sheffield
• Oxenholme – Preston – Manchester – Manchester Airport

Transport for Wales: 

• Manchester – Chester
• Manchester – Crewe

East Midlands Railway:

• Liverpool – Warrington – Manchester
• Manchester – Sheffield

Please remember to check if an alternative Northern service departs within an hour of any cancelled services, before attempting to use other operators.

Refunds and Delay Repay 

If your train is cancelled, you can claim a full refund, (provided your ticket was purchased through Northern). More details can be found on the refunds page.

If your train is delayed you can claim a refund depending on the length of delay using the Delay Repay portal. 

Refunds  Delay Repay