Commuters and travellers are facing widespread disruption on one of Britain's busiest rail routes after significant damage to overhead electric wires brought services to a standstill.
The incident, which occurred near Preston on Tuesday afternoon, has caused major problems for Avanti West Coast services operating between Glasgow Central and London Euston. Multiple services have been cancelled or severely delayed, leaving passengers stranded at stations across the route.
What's Happening on the Rails?
Network Rail engineers are working urgently to repair the damaged overhead lines, but the complexity of the fault means disruption is expected to continue throughout the evening. The power failure has created a domino effect, impacting not only Avanti West Coast services but also affecting other operators using this critical artery.
Key impacts include:
- Severe delays between Glasgow and London Euston
- Multiple service cancellations confirmed
- Extended journey times for trains that are running
- Potential disruption continuing into Wednesday morning
Passenger Advice and Alternative Travel
Avanti West Coast has issued travel advice urging passengers to check their journey before travelling. The operator has confirmed that tickets will be accepted on alternative routes, including:
- CrossCountry services between Scotland and England
- TransPennine Express routes
- London Northwestern Railway services
"We understand how frustrating this disruption is for our customers," said an Avanti West Coast spokesperson. "Our teams are working closely with Network Rail to restore normal service as quickly as possible."
The West Coast Main Line represents one of the most important transport corridors in the UK, connecting major cities including Glasgow, Preston, Birmingham and London. This latest incident highlights the vulnerability of the UK's rail infrastructure to single points of failure.
