'Do not travel' warning issued as rail line FLOODED amid North West downpours

Passengers are being urged to rethink their journeys as downpours batter the North West. Greater Manchester has been issued an amber weather warning for rain until midday today (May 23), while other areas of the North have a yellow warning from the Met Office.

Tricky conditions are expected on roads across the region, while public transport is also due to be affected today. Two rail operators have this morning urged people not to travel on services between Greater Manchester and Scotland.

TransPennine Express and Avanti West Coast are both urging customers to find alternative arrangements, due to flooding on the railway line. Darren Higgins, commercial director at TransPennine Express, said: “Due to flooding on the railway line north of Carlisle, train services are significantly disrupted.

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“The safety of our customers and colleagues is our priority and we are urging customers not to travel between Manchester, Liverpool, Preston to Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Anyone planning on travelling by train today can choose to defer their travel or claim a refund.”

Meanwhile, a fallen tree has affected services between Stockport and Sheffield this morning. Greater Manchester is set for rain throughout the day, with temperatures not expected to climb above 11C.