Yorkshire flooding: Trains cancelled across county

A number of rail lines across Yorkshire are closed today in the wake of severe flooding - with rail officials warning commuters not to travel “unless absolutely necessary”.
Network Rail picture of flooding at Walsden StationNetwork Rail picture of flooding at Walsden Station
Network Rail picture of flooding at Walsden Station

The line between Rochdale and Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, on the Leeds-Manchester route, was shut on Sunday after severe flooding left Walsden station in Lancashire under several feet of water.

The railway at Kirkstall, Leeds, was four feet under water, with no services between Leeds and Bradford, Skipton and Bradford or Leeds and Ilkley. Trains between Bradford Forster Square and Ilkley are expected to run as scheduled, every two hours - but delays were already being reported on Sunday morning.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Trains between Leeds and Carlisle / Morecombe will start / terminate at Skipton.

Network Rail workers have been drafted in to help Northern Rail assess the condition of around five bridges and viaducts across Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire.

A spokesperson for Northern Rail said: “We are working closely with our colleagues at Network Rail to keep the disruption down to a minimum and will be examining the condition of all our routes first thing in the morning.

“Following major flooding today in the Walsden area no train services will be running through this station or between Todmorden and Rochdale until further notice.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We would like to apologise for the inconvenience this will cause to our customers.”

John Mahon, Network Rail’s route control manager, said: “We will be monitoring the railway throughout tonight and into the morning and with safety being our priority, we will run empty trains across Lancashire and Cumbria ahead of any passenger trains to check the lines are safe before we begin the morning’s services.

“If you are planning to take a train in this region tomorrow, please check before you travel on National Rail Enquiries, www.nationalrail.co.uk, or on your train company’s website.”