Rail services to Manchester Airport have been hit hard after more than £100,000 worth of power cables were stolen from the Preston and Bolton railway line over Christmas.
Due to this incident, the signaling system on the railway lines has been shut down due to the loss of important cables for signaling. As a result, all rail lines between Preston and Bolton will remain closed “for most of the day,” a Network Rail spokesman said.
“Railway repair work underway”
The repair work is expected to be completed by 6 p.m. In the meantime, limited rail-replacement buses will be provided to the airport from central Blackpool and Manchester.
Fewer trains will be running between Blackpool North and Preston, and limited rail-replacement buses will be available on that route as well.
Train services between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport are also affected by the problem. Fewer trains will run in both directions, and limited buses have been arranged.
A Network Rail spokesman said the 17:51 GMT train from Blackpool North to Manchester Airport and the 18:45 GMT train from Manchester Airport to Blackpool North would stop at all stations on the routes.
“Substitute Services Available”
Passengers are advised to book a Northern Rail ticket for the Avanti West Coast service between Warrington Bank Quay and the Oxenholme Lake District, as well as the Transpennine Express service between Manchester Station and Preston. These can be used at no extra cost.
Network Rail said it was working with British Transport Police to trace and prosecute the thieves. Cooperation is ongoing with British Transport Police to trace and take action against them.
“Important Role of Power Cables”
These stolen cables provide power to the overhead line equipment, which is vital for running electric railways. Trains on the entire route have come to a standstill due to this incident.
“Apologizing to Passengers”
Christian Irvine, Capital Delivery Director at Network Rail, said: “I’m very sorry for the inconvenience to passengers caused by the closure of this line. We are working with British Transport Police and taking extra security measures to catch thieves.”
The incident is also likely to have a major impact on Northern Railway services in the northern region. In addition, the line is still sensitive as electrification of the railway line between Wigan and Bolton is underway from 2022.
The railway administration has apologized for the inconvenience caused to the passengers due to this incident, and efforts are on to resolve the problem at the earliest.