Rail passengers in the North West still facing disruption after Storm Boelo
Most lines have reopened but some services are still affected
Rail passengers across the North West are being told to expect some disruption on Monday 26th October after Storm Boelo caused major problems for train journeys over the weekend.
Network Rail said most railway lines in the region reopened on Monday morning.
However, it said the scale of the damage means some services may run to amended timetables or at reduced speeds while the railway completes its recovery.
Network Rail teams worked with train operators to keep as many services running as possible over the weekend, but some routes had to close because of the extreme weather.
Torrential rain and gales, with gusts of up to 70mph, flooded some tracks and brought down trees, which damaged infrastructure and delayed trains.
What Network Rail dealt with
Over the weekend, Network Rail's North West route dealt with:
357 weather-related issues that caused faults on the railway
70 trees cut back and removed from the tracks
three items that had flown onto overhead line equipment
nine floods that prevented trains from running
four key sections of overhead electrical lines in Garstang, Lostock and Hazel Grove, which were damaged by strong winds and trees, repaired
Advice for passengers
Passengers are being advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before they travel while the timetable returns to normal.
The latest service information is also available on train operators' websites.
Northern said customers with tickets dated Sunday 25th October can use them on any Northern service on Monday 26th or Tuesday 27th October at no extra cost.
TransPennine Express said customers who were unable to travel with the company on Sunday can still use those tickets on Monday and Tuesday.
What the rail bosses said
Chris Wright, Network Rail North West route director, said: "I am really sorry to everyone whose journey has been affected by Storm Boelo. We know how disruptive and frustrating the last few days have been, particularly for those trying to travel at the start of the working week. We are incredibly grateful to passengers for their patience and continued support."
"Our teams have worked around the clock in extremely challenging conditions to repair the damage, remove fallen trees and reopen routes safely. Most railway lines across the North West are now open, but the scale of the storm's impact means some services may still operate to amended timetables or run at reduced speeds today."
Andrew McClements, TransPennine Express customer experience and transformation director, said: "Storms Austen and Boelo created really difficult conditions across the weekend, and I'm grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding as we did all we could to keep them on the move."
"The railway worked hard to keep routes open and to give customers as many options as possible to help them complete necessary journeys. Customers who were unable to travel with TransPennine Express on Sunday can still use those tickets on Monday and Tuesday, and our colleagues will be on hand to help make journeys as smooth as possible."
Warrick Dent, Northern chief operating officer, said: "We're sorry to everyone affected by the disruption caused by Storms Austen and Boelo over the weekend. We've worked around the clock with colleagues from across the industry to repair damage and restore services as quickly and safely as possible, and I'd like to thank all colleagues involved for their hard work."
"Many routes across the North are still facing disruption today, so please check before travelling. Customers with tickets dated Sunday 25 October can use them on any Northern service on Monday 26 or Tuesday 27 October at no extra cost."
Network Rail said further periods of severe weather are possible during the autumn and winter.
It said the rail industry is committed to learning from the weekend, adapting its plans and improving how quickly and safely the railway can recover from future events.