Rail passengers stranded after overhead line ‘explosions’ heard and storm alerts issued
Passengers were left stranded after overhead line 'explosions' were heard in fierce storm as travel alerts were issued.
Travel disruption brought train[1] services to a standstill across northern England while emergency workers services were called after reports of a car in a canal in Bradford. Meanwhile another vehicle was hit by a tree which was brought down in the storm in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Two rail platforms in Manchester Piccadilly station[2] were put out of action after a tree fell on to overhead wires triggering a series of bangs as Storm[3] Elin took its toll.
Flooding unleashed travel chaos across northern England, with railways brought to a standstill caused by storm damage (
Twitter)
Travellers were forced to bed-down in the station, pay for a expensive taxi journey home or find the cash for an unexpected additional cost of a hotel room. Rail firms were left trying to repair infrastructure to allow services to restart.
A spokesman for Northern Rail said earlier: "Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Manchester Piccadilly some lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until further notice. Network Rail are on site now and are attempting to resolve the issue. All Northern services are now being impacted, by delays, cancellations and service alterations. Where possible customers are advised not to travel due to multiple weather[5] related incidents and replacement road transport being very limited."
In Manchester, the city's key railway station Piccadilly was badly hit and services disrupted as engineers tried to repair storm damage. A spokesman for Manchester Piccadilly said: "A fallen tree has damaged the overhead wires and blocks the tracks between Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road.
"Engineers are on site assessing the damage and working to restore services as soon as possible. Services on platforms 13 and 14 are cancelled or revised. Please check before you travel. Severe disruption is expected to services operated by Trans-Pennine Express and Northern Rail."
Travellers faced a night in the station or a hotel after services were disrupted (
Twitter)
Frustrated passengers vented their anger after after being left stranded by the travel disruption. An angry passenger said: "Currently stuck in Manchester thanks to a last minute cancelled train. Only replacement available was a two carriage train at 22:00 that you couldn’t get another person on if they grabbed onto the roof. So I’ll be sleeping in the station tonight."
Up to 30mm of rain fell in the northern parts of England and a yellow warning was in force until 3am this morning. A total of 43 alerts were issued for England by the Environment Agency[6] with floods expected to hit areas such as the River Ouse at York. Other warnings were in place for Northern Ireland some areas of southern Scotland[7] until 9pm.
The Mirror[8] reported earlier how dozens of flood[9] warnings are in place today for England and Scotland[10] as a fresh band of rain[11] sweeps in from the west.
The Met Office's yellow weather[12] warning for rain expired at 3am today but up to 30mm was expected overnight in parts of northwest England[13], including Greater Manchester and Lancashire. Environment Agency[14] has monitored waterways in these areas and further afield and a further 252 flood alerts, which are less severe.
References
- ^ train (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ station (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Storm (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ 'Prepare now' storm warning for New York as torrential rain and wind to hit East Coast (www.themirror.com)
- ^ weather (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Environment Agency (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Scotland (www.thesun.co.uk)
- ^ The Mirror (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ flood (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Scotland (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ rain (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ weather (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ up to 30mm was expected overnight in parts of northwest England (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Environment Agency (www.mirror.co.uk)