'Do not travel' warning issued for Greater Manchester

Rail passengers have been warned that no trains will be running on several routes in Greater Manchester.

Northern has issued a 'do not travel' notice, warning passengers that no Northern trains will be running on four routes in the region today (October 20). The train operator also warned that short notice cancellations are to be expected throughout the North West.

The operator has blamed the cancellations on train crew shortages with Storm Ashley also expected to affect travel too. As a result of crew shortages across West and Central depots, Northern has issued a 'do not travel' warning for the following regional routes.

READ MORE: LIVE as Storm Ashley hits UK amid weather warnings and flood alerts

There will be no Northern trains running from Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge, Manchester Victoria to Chester and Preston to Colne. There will be no rail replacement buses offered for these routes either.

Tickets for Northern trains will be accepted on the following Transpennine Express (TPE) and Transport for Wales (TfW) services:

Liverpool Lime Street will also be closed today meaning that services to the city from Manchester Oxford Road will start and terminate at Hunts Cross, trains from Wilmslow will begin and end their journeys from Earlestown and those from Blackpool North will operate to and from Huyton. There will be rail replacement buses available from Blackpool South to Preston and Huyton to Preston while tickets for Northern trains will also be accepted on Blackpool Transport Buses between Blackpool North and Lytham St Annes.

Storm Ashley is expected to cause severe weather this weekend (Sunday, 20 October), disrupting the rail network. The North West of the UK is