Key facts
- A power failure at Manchester Rail Operating Centre caused major disruption across northern England.
- The incident occurred just before 14:00 BST due to a wider power supply outage in the Ardwick area.
- Thousands of rail passengers experienced delays and cancellations.
- Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander advised passengers to check services before travelling.
- Disruption was expected to continue for the rest of Thursday.
- At least eight rail operators were affected.
- Network Rail confirmed the incident and disruption have ended.
Thousands of rail passengers faced significant travel disruption across northern England on Thursday following a power failure at a Manchester signalling centre. The electrical failure at the Manchester Rail Operating Centre, which occurred just before 14:00 BST as part of a wider power outage in the Ardwick area, led to widespread delays and cancellations.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the disruption, stating that it was expected to continue for the remainder of the day and advised passengers to check their travel plans. National Rail confirmed that at least eight rail operators were affected by the incident.
The disruption caused a ripple effect, impacting services beyond the immediate area, including trains travelling north from stations like Birmingham New Street and London Euston. Passengers shared their experiences of "nightmare" journeys, with some facing lengthy delays, being stranded, or requiring expensive alternative transport such as taxis or hotels.
Network Rail later confirmed that the incident and the resulting disruption had ended. Affected passengers are advised to check their eligibility for compensation based on ticket type and delay duration, with claims possible through train company websites or the Delay Repay scheme.