TransPennine Express: Rail users warned to only make necessary journeys ahead of potential travel disruption

Rail company TransPennine Express (TPE) is asking customers to consider if their journey is necessary ahead of potential disruption this weekend.

TPE, which operates trains across the North of England and into Scotland, will be running a reduced service over the weekend.

Trains on both Saturday 9 July and Sunday 10 July will be affected due to increased levels of staff sickness.

The reduced service is causing continued disruption to rail travel, just weeks after The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Union spent three days striking at the end of June.

The RMT Union has also announced that further strike action is not off the table as negotiations over pay continue.

TransPennine Express are urging customers that must make essential journeys over the weekend to plan ahead and check carefully before travelling.

Travellers who must make journeys have been asked to allow extra time for their travels as delays and short-notice cancellations are likely.

Further disruption is expected as engineering work by Network Rail is also taking place on weekends until 31 July between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.

Work is also taking place on the Hope Valley Line between Manchester and Sheffield.

TPE has warned there will be significant journey changes for people travelling on both of those routes.

A number of large-scale events are also happening across the North East that could cause further disruption to travel.

The Women’s Euros, Newsam Park Open Air Festival and Rugby League fixtures are all taking place this weekend.

TransPennine Express has advised anyone heading to an event to seek alternative methods of travel.

Anyone that will be making an essential journey with TPE this weekend is advised to check their train before they travel.

To check the status of your train, visit the TPE website or National Rail Enquiries. Tpexpress.co.uk, nationalrail.co.uk.

TransPennine Express have also announced that bikes will not be permitted on-board their services this weekend.

Customer service and operations director for TransPennine Express, Kathryn O’Brien said: “We are sorry to say that we’re expecting further disruption to our services this weekend because of continuing high levels of staff sickness.

“As a result of these challenges, we’re asking customers to only travel if necessary on Saturday and Sunday, and to plan ahead and check before they travel as well as allowing additional time, as services are expected to be really busy and further delays and cancellations likely.

“People travelling to one of the major events taking place across our network are asked to seek alternative methods of transport.”