A significant signalling failure in the Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent area had earlier forced the closure of all railway lines through the region. Network Rail engineers were swiftly on site to fix the problem and lines have since reopened but severe disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day.

The following operators have services affected:

• Avanti West Coast services between London Euston and Chester, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Holyhead, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly

• CrossCountry services between Birmingham New Street, Bournemouth, Bristol Temple Meads or Paignton and Manchester Piccadilly

• East Midlands Railway services between Newark Castle or Nottingham and Crewe

• London Northwestern Railway routes between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street, and between London Euston or Stafford and Crewe

• Northern services between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester Piccadilly

Customers should expect cancellations, delays of up to 90 minutes, or amended timetables on routes between Stafford and Crewe, Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, and between Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly or Derby.

Avanti West Coast is advising passengers not to travel on any of its routes linking London with Manchester, Liverpool, Holyhead or Preston due to the scale of the disruption. East Midlands Railway and Northern have arranged replacement bus services, and passengers can obtain details from station staff.

Travellers are being urged to check with their individual train operator before setting out, as services remain subject to significant short-notice changes.

Image: Avanti West Coast