Commuters are facing travel chaos across Manchester after vandals caused damage to cables in the Salford Crescent area last night.
According to reports, overhead cables were cut causing major delays to services between Bolton – Manchester and Liverpool – Manchester via Newton le Willows.
However, Network Rail stress the incident was not a result of cable theft and say the cause of the damage is now being investigated.
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “Just after 10pm on Sunday we were alerted to signalling issues between Deansgate and Salford Crescent.
“An inspection of the area revealed a number of damaged cables and engineers have worked overnight and through this morning to carry out repairs to reopen the railway as quickly as possible.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and urge passengers to check with National Rail Enquiries for the latest information before travelling.”
Furious commuters took to social media to vent their anger about the distruption which is expected to last until 4pm this afternoon.
Salford University student Lizzie Doyle, 20, said: “All the trains cancelled to and from Manchester due to a cable theft in Deansgate.
“Absolute murder everywhere all down to a selfish person.
“Now stuck in a massive queue in the middle of nowhere waiting for a coach. I’m fuming.”
Thank you to whoever decided to steal the cables from the train lines in Manchester! You’ve now ruined everyone’s Monday morning. #GRINCH
— Jess C-D (@JColdDale) December 1, 2014
Cable thieves disrupting my direct journey to Manchester with @TPExpressTrains. Now we have to squeeze onto another train or get a bus!
— Lorraine Herbison (@LorrainHerbison) December 1, 2014
Train was meant to be in Manchester 20 mins ago n all I can see out the window is countryside what is happening am I on the right train
— claudia mccabe (@claudiaamccabe) December 1, 2014
Northern Rail have now issued an ammended timetable summary which says all direct services from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport will be cancelled until further notice.
Services between Preston and Hazel Grove will terminate and start at Manchester Oxford Road and services between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Victoria will terminate and start at Newton-Le-Willows, with a replacement bus service operating to Manchester Victoria.
Services between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Oxford Road via Warrington Central, Birchwood and Widnes will run as normal.
For more information, click here.
Image courtesy of Simon Davison via Flickr, with thanks.
