Rail passengers are being advised to check their journeys before travelling today after heavy overnight rain caused widespread flooding across Cumbria and Lancashire.

Services in parts of Cumbria are experiencing significant delays, while trains between Carlisle and Whitehaven have been suspended due to severe weather conditions and waterlogged tracks. Network Rail engineers are on site at several key locations to monitor the situation and carry out safety checks before services can safely resume.

The Environment Agency has issued multiple flood alerts and warnings across the North West, while the Met Office has placed the region under a yellow severe weather warning for rain, which is expected to persist throughout the day. Further heavy rainfall is forecast into Friday and Saturday morning, raising the risk of additional travel disruption.

Phil James, Network Rail’s Route Director for the North West, said: “Passengers should be aware that there is some disruption on the railway today as a result of flooding in the North West. Our teams are working hard to resolve issues where they arise and we will continue to work with partners to monitor the situation. The weather is expected to continue to get worse throughout today and tomorrow so I would urge passengers to check before you travel.”

A new Yellow National Severe Weather Warning has also been issued for Friday into Saturday, covering much of England and Wales. The continued heavy rain could lead to further flooding, posing risks to travel and local infrastructure.

Passengers are urged to check for live updates before setting out, with services across the region expected to remain disrupted until conditions improve.

Image: Network Rail