A power cut at the Manchester Rail Operating Centre has brought trains to a standstill across parts of north-west England, causing major disruption for passengers. The incident, which occurred just before 2pm on Thursday, affected signalling systems controlling the railway in the region, leading to widespread cancellations and delays.
Widespread cancellations and delays
National Rail enquiries warned of major disruption, with trains in Greater Manchester, the Midlands, and the north-west of England most affected. Passengers awaiting Northern and TransPennine trains were advised not to travel, as services were either cancelled or delayed by more than an hour. Other operators including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern, and Transport for Wales also faced disruptions.
A spokesperson for National Rail said: “This is expected to cause major disruption until the end of the day. If you’re travelling with Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern, Northern, TransPennine Express, or Transport for Wales in the affected area your train may be cancelled, delayed, or revised. Please allow extra time to make your journey this afternoon as you may need to use an alternative route or change trains part-way through to reach your destination.”
Cause and response
The power cut hit the Manchester Rail Operating Centre, which controls signalling across the region. An emergency generator failed to start in time to maintain operations, triggering safety protocols that required a controlled restart of the systems. Although power has been restored, Network Rail confirmed that disruption would continue to affect services running through the region for the rest of the day.
Chris Wright, north-west route director at National Rail, said: “We’re sorry to passengers impacted by a power issues in Manchester which is causing significant delays to trains through the city. While some services are now running major disruption is expected for the rest of the day. I’d urge anyone planning to travel to check National Rail enquiries for the latest information.”
Alternative travel options
Passengers travelling within Greater Manchester have been advised that they can use any Bee Network bus or Metrolink service at no extra cost while the disruption continues. This measure aims to ease the impact on commuters and travellers affected by the halted rail services.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of the region's rail infrastructure to power failures, with signalling centres playing a critical role in maintaining safe and efficient train operations. Network Rail engineers are working to fully restore normal service, but passengers are urged to plan ahead and check for updates before setting out.
