Storm Éowyn is likely to cause severe disruption to rail services across northern England, a train operator has warned.
Wherever possible, Northern Rail has advised passengers not to travel on Friday, stressing “trains may be cancelled at very short notice with onward connection not possible”.
It also urged passengers: “Try not to rely on the last services of the day as they may be cancelled, and bad weather may restrict road transport.”
On some routes Northern Rail said neither trains nor replacement buses would be running.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for strong winds moving across parts of England on Friday.
It said gusts could peak at 70mph (113 km/h) inland and up to 90mph along more exposed coasts and hills.
“Storm Éowyn is expected to bring very strong winds and widespread disruption,” said a Met Office spokesperson.
It warned power cuts were likely, with other services such as mobile phone coverage also at risk of being impacted.
Road, air and ferry services are likely to be affected, forecasters said, with longer journey times and cancellations possible.
Winds are forecast to gradually ease later on Friday.
‘Do not travel’ warnings
Northern has issued a “do not travel” warning for the following services:
- Oxenholme to Windermere (Windermere branch)
- Barrow-Carlisle (Cumbrian Coast)
- Settle-Carlisle
- Barrow/Windermere-Manchester Airport
- Carlisle-Barrow/Lancaster
- Morecambe Heysham Port-Lancaster
- Blackpool North to York (from Bradford to Blackpool)
- Wigan to Leeds
- Manchester Victoria to Leeds
- Huddersfield-Sheffield (Penistone Line )
- Hebden Bridge-Halifax (Calder Valley)
- Leeds-Nottingham
- Newcastle-Carlisle
- Ashington-Newcastle (Northumberland line)
‘Advise against travel’ warnings
Northern said passengers were “strongly advised” not to travel on the following services, with “large gaps in services or the route will only be partially served”.
- Leeds-Lincoln will operate Sheffield-Lincoln only
- Sheffield-Scarborough will operate Hull-Scarborough only
- York-Bridlington will operate Hull-Bridlington only
- Leeds-Knottingley
- York-Blackpool North will operate Bradford Interchange-York only
- Leeds-Harrogate
- Leeds-Chester will operate between Chester and Manchester Victoria
