Delays and cancellations are expected throughout the day.
A driver has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after the car they were in crashed onto train tracks in Salford.
The car crashed at Regent Roundabout and flipped onto its roof onto nearby train tracks, blocking the line between Liverpool and Manchester.
The incident happened in the early hours of this morning resulting in ‘significant damage to the railway and overhead cables’.
The main railway line between Liverpool and Manchester is expected to remain closed for most of the day.
Northern, TransPennine Express, and Transport for Wales services face significant disruption until the car can be removed from the tracks, reports BBC News.
Network Rail said they expect the line to be closed for the bulk of the day.
They added: “We’re really sorry to any passengers affected by this incident and urge anyone planning to travel by train between Liverpool and Manchester to plan ahead and check with their train operator for the latest travel information.”
A spokesman added that it would “take some time to remove the badly damaged car” from the tracks.
National Rail said the incident was affecting the following routes:
- Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Airport (Northern)
- Wigan North Western-Manchester Victoria (Northern)
- Chester-Leeds (Northern)
- Chester-Manchester Victoria (Northern)
- Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Victoria (TransPennine Express)
- Liverpool Lime Street-Hull (TransPennine Express)
- Liverpool Lime Street-Newcastle (TransPennine Express)
- Lancaster-Manchester Airport (TransPennine Express)
- Chester-Manchester Airport (Transport for Wales)
- Llandudno-Manchester Airport (Transport for Wales)
- Llandudno-Manchester Oxford Road (Transport for Wales)
- Holyhead-Manchester Airport (Transport for Wales)
Rail replacement busses will run every 30 minutes between Earlestown and Manchester Piccadilly, and between Newton-le-Willows and Manchester Victoria.
The driver of the car has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and has been taken to hospital for assessment.
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