'Looking at a taxi £200-plus or hotel': Train passengers stranded after storm damages overhead wires as 'do not travel' alert issued
09.12.2023 - 23:25
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Train passengers have been stranded after Storm Elin caused chaos on the rails in Manchester this evening (December 9).
Debris caused ‘explosions’ on overhead wires near to Piccadilly Station at about 5:30pm on Saturday, which meant there were significant delays on the network. Trains which usually call at Piccadilly’s two ‘pass through’ platforms — 13 and 14 — were unable to do so.
It has meant that hundreds of passengers have taken to social media to report they are either stuck or facing a circuitous route home. A ‘do not travel’ alert was issued by Northern at 8:30pm due to the issues.
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“What's the advice to the people (including children) currently stranded who live far away from Manchester and can't get people to pick them up?,” user Lisa Jane asked on X. “Little communication and no rail replacement. Looking at a taxi £200plus or hotel which is also expensive. Are you going to refund?”
Another passenger impacted by the weather was CJ. He said: “This is not a dig at train companies, I really feel for the staff right now and I respect the job they are doing even more.
“I’m trying to get to Leeds and then eventually home and I’m at Manchester Victoria. Can Northern or TransPennine advise me what to do as every train is full?”
The issues have been felt keenly in Manchester as the city hosts big events like the Christmas Markets, a Manchester United home game, and Year’s End music festival — plus some residual busyness from Thursday’s Chanel show.
Explaining why the issue happened,