Timetables and disruptions

Each autumn, thousands of tonnes of leaves fall on the railway.

Leaves on the line are more serious than you may think - as the leaves get crushed down on the tracks it causes layers of mulch making it harder for trains to grip the tracks and brake - essentially it’s the black ice of the railway. Leaves, especially in wet weather, can also affect some of the equipment which controls the signals. Teams across the railway including industry partners all work hard to keep trains moving safely during the autumn.

We've made some slight retimings to trains on some routes which experience some of the issues mentioned above. These are:

• Nunthorpe and Middlesbrough to Newcastle and Metrocentre

• Sunderland and Newcastle to Hexham and Carlisle

• Middlesbrough to Whitby (The Esk Valley Railway)

• York, Leeds and Colne to Preston and Blackpool

• Manchester to Blackburn and Clitheroe

• Manchester to Hazel Grove and Buxton

• Huddersfield to Sheffield (Penistone Line)

You can check your train times and buy your tickets via our website via our app. You can also check train times via NationalRail.co.uk

Find out more about what the industry is doing to tackle leaves here.

Following the 30-day closure, works will continue at Huddersfield until January 2027. During this time, the station will operate with a reduced number of platforms, meaning there will be changes to the timetable for services that would usually start or end their journey at Huddersfield. Local stopping services that run between Huddersfield and Leeds / Bradford are affected. Here's how the changes impact those routes:

Leeds stopping service, which previously ran from Huddersfield, now runs from Leeds to Bradford Interchange via Brighouse. 

A replacement bus service will run Huddersfield, Deighton and Brighouse to connect with train services. 

If you’re planning a trip in the North West on a Sunday, please check journey planners before you head out.

Since Sundays are outside of conductors' regular working week, we've made some changes to the schedule. It's a good idea to check before you embark on your journey.

A summary of the amended Sunday timetable is available on our information page.

To check your journey, visit Northern's Journey Planner or the National Rail website.

Changes to Services Between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness

Due to emergency engineering works, the railway between Corkickle and Whitehaven is currently closed until further notice

A rail replacement bus service is operating to help you complete your journey. However, please note:

• Nethertown and Braystones stations are not served by rail replacement buses; the closest stations are Sellafield or St Bees.
• Train and bus times may vary throughout the day and will take longer than the train – you can plan your journey on the Northern website or through National Rail planners before you travel.
• Details of what’s happening, and its progress, can be found on the Network Rail Website 

More information about the closure and details of things like rail replacement bus stops can be found on our disruption page. 

From 14 September (until further notice)

• Buses will replace trains between Corkickle and Whitehaven

Over the Christmas and New Year period, there will be some changes to the timetable. Full details can be found at https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/christmas-engineering 

Ravensthorpe station will close to customers after the final train on Saturday 13 December until 2028 whilst the station is rebuilt as part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Upon completion, Ravensthorpe station will be relocated 200 metres west of the current site and will feature an island platform, allowing longer trains to stop at the station and more space and seats for customers. The station will also fully accessible and step-free with the installation of new lifts will be added to improve accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges and facilitating smoother access to platforms.

From Sunday 14 December until the May timetable change in 2026, Northern will be running a rail replacement service between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury, from the bus stop on Leeds Road, approximately a 10-minute walk from the current station location.

Customers requiring further information should see information posters at the station or contact the Northern customer experience centre via telephone on 0800 200 6060. 

Customers seeking to travel on the rail replacement bus must purchase a valid ticket for their journey. Customers are also advised to check their journeys before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk

Due to planned improvement works in the Mirfield area as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, no services will be able to run between Brighouse and Dewsbury.

Wigan Wallgate to Leeds services will be diverted to run via Halifax and Bradford Interchange between Sowerby Bridge and Leeds, and will not call at Brighouse, Mirfield, Dewsbury, Batley and Morley. A rail replacement bus service will run between Halifax and Dewsbury calling at Brighouse and Mirfield.

Bradford Interchange to Leeds via Dewsbury services will start/terminate at Brighouse instead of Leeds and will run every two hours. TransPennine Express will be running an hourly rail replacement bus between Huddersfield and Dewsbury calling at all intermediate stations. 

For customers travelling between Dewsbury and Leeds, TransPennine Express will be running services between those stations, picking up calls at Batley, Morley and Cottingley.

In February 2026, Network Rail will be investing £7.9m to improve tracks, points and signalling systems on the southern approach to Manchester Piccadilly station – delivering better, more reliable journeys for passengers. 

The main work takes place over nine days during February half term, from Saturday 14 – Sunday 22 February 2026. During this time, there will be no trains from the south and east of the city into Manchester.

You can find out more about the works at NetworkRail.co.uk

We'll provide travel information 12 weeks before the closure. 

Due to planned engineering improvement works on the West Coast Mainline,  the railway line will be closed through Preston station between Thursday 1  and Sunday 4 January.

Other train operators are also affected by this closure as the line is also closed between Oxenholme and Carlisle and Carlisle and Dumfries 

Rail replacement buses will run between: 

• Blackpool North / Preston - Buckshaw Parkway
• Blackpool North / Preston - Blackburn
• Wigan North Western / Preston - Lancaster
• Buckshaw Parkway - Preston
• Ormskirk - Preston
• Oxenholme / Penrith - Carlisle
• Carlisle - Lockerbie
• Carlisle - Dumfries

Timetables are available in online journey planners - please use them to check how your journey might be affected. 

From Saturday 27 December 2025 to Sunday 25 January 2026 sections of the railway line between Leeds, York and Selby will be closed to enable significant improvement work to take place as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, meaning Northern services will be running to an amended timetable.

During these date, Network Rail will complete the following works:

• Signalling and telecommunications systems along the route will be replaced, with a total of 54 new signals, other supporting infrastructure and a brand-new power supply will be installed, tested and brought into use.
• The tracks in the Church Fenton area will also be remodeled, with platforms 3 & 4 at Church Fenton station being re-aligned and a passing loop installed to allow fast trains to overtake slower trains. This will enable the line speed to be increased in the future and unlock more frequent services.
• 3km of track will also be replaced, along with eight switches and crossings, which enable trains to change from one line to another, delivering smoother, more reliable journeys. Work to install overhead electric line equipment will also continue, ready to power greener, quieter electric trains in the future.

To enable the works, changes to Northern services will happen across a three phased approach.

Phase 1: Saturday 27 December 2025 to 11:30 Monday 29th December 2025 

Due to the Transpennine Route Upgrade improvement works, no services will be able to run between Leeds – Selby, Leeds – York, York – Selby and York – Sheffield via Moorthorpe.  The following changes to services will be in place.

Blackpool North – York: Services will only run between Blackpool North and Leeds. 

Leeds – York: An hourly replacement bus service will be in operation calling at all intermediate stations.

Halifax – Hull: Services will only run between Halifax and Leeds. An hourly replacement bus service will be in operation between Leeds and Selby calling at all intermediate stations.

York – Hull/Bridlington: Services will only run between Selby and Hull/Bridlington. An hourly rail replacement bus service will be in operation between Selby and York calling at all intermediate stations.

York – Sheffield: These services will not run. A replacement bus service will be in operation between York and Moorthorpe calling at all intermediate stations.

Please note: Cross Country and TransPennine Express services will also be affected. 

Phase 2: From 11:30 Monday 29th December 2025 to Saturday 3 January

Due to the Transpennine Route Upgrade improvement works, no services will be able to run between Micklefield – York, York – Selby via Church Fenton and York – Sheffield via Moorthorpe.  The following changes to services will be in place.

Blackpool North – York: Services will only run between Blackpool North and Leeds. 

Leeds – York: Services will only run between Leeds and Micklefield. An hourly replacement bus service will be in operation between Micklefield and York, calling at Church Fenton.

York – Hull/Bridlington: Services will be diverted between Selby and York and will not run via Church Fenton. An hourly rail replacement bus service will be in operation between Selby and York calling at all intermediate stations.

York – Sheffield: These services will not run. A replacement bus service will be in operation between York and Moorthorpe calling at all intermediate stations.

Please note: Cross Country and TransPennine Express services will also be affected. 

Phase 3: From Sunday 4 January to Sunday 25 January

Due to the Transpennine Route Upgrade improvement works, no services will be able to run between Micklefield – York. The following changes to services will be in place.

Blackpool North – York: Services will only run between Blackpool North and Leeds. 

Leeds – York: Services will only run between Leeds and Micklefield. An hourly replacement bus service will be in operation between Micklefield and York, calling at Church Fenton.

Please note: Cross Country and TransPennine Express services will also be affected.

Due to planned engineering improvement works in the Sheffield area, services will be affected between Monday 2 and Friday 6 February 2026.

Trains between York / Leeds / Doncaster / Adwick and Sheffield / Lincoln will not run.

Rail replacement buses will run between:

• York and Moorthorpe
• Meadowhall / Rotherham Central and Sheffield
• Sheffield and Lincoln

Timetables are available in online journey planners - please use them to check how your journey might be affected. 

During the Manchester Christmas Markets, train services in and around Manchester are expected to be busy, particularly in the evenings and at weekends.

Deansgate station will also be closed on Fridays and Saturdays from 1800 for the duration of the Manchester Christmas Markets.

Please plan ahead and allow longer for your journey. For assistance, please speak to a member of station staff.

Sunderland vs Newcastle at the Stadium of Light on Sunday 14 December

Northern services run regularly to Sunderland from across the North East. Timetables can be found here.

Services will be running as normal but may be busier than usual. Please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey, and check before you travel.