Check before you travel
We pride ourselves on getting you to your destination as quickly and comfortably as possible, but disruption can sometimes happen. It is always best to check your journey before you travel so that you can be aware of any issues and plan ahead.
You can check updates for all UK trains using our app, the journey checker tool below or from National Rail Enquiries. You will also find useful information on how best to travel during future service updates and events across our network.
Download the Northern app for Apple and Android devices here:
Check your journey -
Check train times and for any disruptionsFound 0 matches or use your location. Use the tab key to navigate the list of options
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Planned disruption across our network
To improve our overall network, we sometimes need to put diversions, restrictions and even station closures in place. Please check below to see if any of your services are affected.
August bank holiday travel information
Heading out this August bank holiday? Don’t forget to check before you travel.
Most Northern services will be running as normal over the August bank holiday weekend (23–25 August), but there’ll be some changes due to engineering improvement work, and some trains might be busier than usual.
Read more about bank holiday travel information here.
Due to planned engineering improvement works, some of our weekend services will be affected throughout July and August. Train timetables are available in planners for you to check how this affects your journey.
Where advertised buses will run to a schedule and will take longer than the train, please check journey planners before travelling for the most accurate times and allow extra time for your journey.
Weekends Saturday & Sunday: 5/6, 12/13, 19/20 and 26/27 July
- Leeds – Wigan (via Dewsbury)
Trains will be diverted to run via Bradford Interchange and will not call at Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Mirfield or Brighouse. - Leeds – Huddersfield (via Dewsbury)
These trains will run between Leeds and Bradford Interchange, calling at Cottingley, Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Ravensthorpe, Mirfield, Brighouse, Halifax and Low Moor. - Huddersfield – Bradford Interchange
Trains will not run on this route. - Rail replacement buses will run between:
- Huddersfield and Brighouse/Halifax
- Huddersfield and Dewsbury
Weekends: 2/3, 9/10 and 16/17 August
- Leeds – Huddersfield (via Dewsbury)
Trains will not run on this route. - Huddersfield – Bradford Interchange
Trains will not run. - Leeds – Wigan (via Dewsbury)
Trains will be diverted to run via Bradford Interchange and will not call at Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Mirfield or Brighouse. - TPE services will continue to run between Manchester Victoria and Brighouse.
- Rail replacement buses will run between:
- Huddersfield and Brighouse/Halifax
- Halifax and Dewsbury
- Huddersfield and Dewsbury/Leeds
This work is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade - more details can be found on the TRU page.
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.
Up to 10 August
From 11 August
On weekends from Saturday 5 July - Sunday 18 August, buses will replace trains between Lockwood and Huddersfield on the Penistone line, all day. Buses run to a schedule and take longer than the train; please check journey planners before travelling for the most accurate times.
This work is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade - more details can be found on the TRU page.
From Saturday, August 2, to Friday, August 22, 2025, no trains will run through Stockport Station while Network Rail undertakes significant improvement work to replace the Greek Street roundabout bridge.
Read more about these engineering improvement works at https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/service-updates/engineering/stockport-station or use Journey Planners to check how you may be affected by the closure.
The following options are available to help you continue your journey during this time:
- Rail Replacement Buses: Both express and stopping services will operate on routes serving Stockport.
- Diverted Long-Distance Trains: Some long-distance trains will be diverted and may use alternative routes in and out of Manchester.
- Ticket Acceptance: Tickets will also be accepted on selected Bee Network bus and tram services across Greater Manchester.
Saturday 30 August to Sunday 28 September 2025
Huddersfield station will be closed for 30 days while major engineering improvement works take place as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
We’re working with Network Rail and Transpennine Express to improve the railway through Huddersfield – including longer platforms, upgraded track and signalling, and essential repairs to the viaduct.
TransPennine Express (TPE) trains are also affected by this work so check any onward connections.
What this means for your journey?
During this time, no trains will run in or out of Huddersfield station. Rail replacement buses and revised train services will be in place across the region.
Find out more information about the closure here
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.
Events happening across our network
We put plans in place to deal with big events happening across our network. Check below to find out about how these events may impact our services and what we're doing to avoid disruption.
The famous Whitby Regatta will take place year on Saturday 9, Sunday 10 and Monday 11 August.
Travel to Whitby using Northern services on the Esk Valley line, timetables can be found here https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables
Services will be running as normal on these dates but may be busier than usual. Please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey, and check before you travel.
The Come Together Festival in Newcastle will showcase some of the biggest names in music over two days: Wednesday 20 and Friday 22 August.
The festival site can be reached using local buses, or if you prefer to walk, it’s approximately a 20–25 minute walk from Newcastle station.
Northern services run regularly to Newcastle from across the North East. Timetables can be found here https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables
Services will be running as normal on these dates but may be busier than usual. Please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey, and check before you travel.
York Racecourse will be holding their annual Ebor Festival on Wednesday 20, Thursday 21, Friday 22 and Saturday 23 August.
Shuttle buses to the racecourse pick up from outside of York Station.
Northern services run regularly to York from Hull, Leeds, and Harrogate. Timetables can be found here https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables
Services will be running as normal on these dates but may be busier than usual. Please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey, and check before you travel.
Heading to Leeds Festival? Plan ahead!
Leeds Festival returns to Bramham Park from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 August 2025, with campsites open from Wednesday 20 to Monday 25 August.
Many festivalgoers choose to travel by train, and this means services into Leeds will be busier than usual throughout the week.
Trains are running as normal, but please allow extra time for your journey, especially during peak arrival and departure times.
Travel advice:
· Northern services run regularly to Leeds from York, Manchester, Sheffield and Carlisle and beyond. Our timetables can be found here (insert link)
· From Leeds Station, take the festival shuttle bus from Sovereign Square Park direct to Bramham Park. The shuttle operates from Wednesday 20 to Monday 25 August.
Have an amazing time at Leeds Festival and thanks for travelling with us!
Train services between Manchester Victoria and Chester via Warrington are expected to be busy between 22 August and 24 August 2025 due to the Creamfields festival in Cheshire.
Services are running as usual, but please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey and check before you travel.
I'm travelling by train to the festival what do i need to know?
The nearest train stations to the festival site are Runcorn Station, Warrington Central, Warrington Bank Quay and Liverpool Lime Street, all ohave shuttle buses operating to and from the site all day and night.
Details can be found on the Creamfields website.
Warrington Bank Quay
Trains to and from Warrington Bank Quay will be busier than usual from Thursday 22 – Sunday 25 August as well as on bank holiday Monday 26 August due to Creamfields Festival. Please leave plenty of time for your journey as there may be queuing systems in place at the station. Creamfield shuttle buses will be running between Warrington Bus Interchange and the festival site.
Warrington, Liverpool and Manchester will have buses running to and from the site.
Runcorn
Trains to and from Runcorn wil alsol be busier than usual from Thursday 22 – Sunday 25 August, as well as on bank holiday Monday 26 August. Please leave plenty of time for your journe,y as there may be queuing systems in place at the station.
Creamfield shuttle buses will only run from the festival to Runcorn station. There will be no shuttle buses from Runcorn to Creamfields.
Train services to and from Blackpool are expected to be busy on Friday 29 August, when the Blackpool Illuminations are switched on for 2025.
Services are running as usual, but please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey (particularly services out of Backpool from 21:00) and check before you travel.
More information can be found here on the Visit Blackpool page.
Southport Airshow
Train services to and from Southport station are expected to be busy on 30 and 31 August 2025.
Services are running as usual, but please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey and check before you travel.
If you’re heading to York Races on Sunday 7 September, please plan ahead and check before you travel. Services will be running as normal but may be busier than usual.
Shuttle buses to the racecourse pick up from outside of York Station.
Northern services run regularly to York from Hull, Leeds, and Harrogate - you can see what services are running and when with our journey planners https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/journey-planner
This year’s Freedom Festival in Hull takes place on Friday 29, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August.
Northern services run regularly to Hull from across Yorkshire, timetables can be found here https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables
Services will be running as normal on these dates but may be busier than usual. Please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey, and check before you travel.
This year’s Great North Run takes place on Sunday 9 September.
Thousands of participants will run between Newcastle and South Shields, and thousands of spectators are expected to be cheering them on along the route.
Many people will choose to travel to these locations by train which means our services may be busier than usual on this day. Please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey, and check before you travel.
Northern timetables can be found here https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables
More information about the Great North Run can be found here https://www.greatrun.org
Good luck to everybody taking part!
Train services to and from Blackpool are expected to be busy on the following dates due to the World Fireworks Championships in Blackpool.
- 13 September 2025
- 17 September 2025
- 11 October 2025
Services are running as usual, but please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey (particularly services out of Backpool from 21:00) and check before you travel.
The world-famous Whitby Goth Weekend returns to the town between Thursday 30 October – Sunday 2 November.
Travel to Whitby using Northern services on the Esk Valley line, timetables can be found here https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables or plan your trip with our journey plannerhttps://www.northernrailway.co.uk/journey-planner .
Services will be running as normal on these dates but may be busier than usual. Please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey, and check before you travel.
What to do if your train is cancelled
If your Northern train is cancelled and you still want to travel to your planned destination, you don't need to purchase a new Northern ticket for that day. You can:
- Get on another Northern train
- Board any Transpennine Express,, EMR or LNER train that's heading in the same direction (2 hours before or 2 hours after your cancelled service)
- If you no longer wish to travel, you can Claim a full refund
What to do if your train is delayed
If your train is delayed, we ask for your patience as we provide updates. You can check for updates using our App, website or the journey checker tool on this page. If you're at the station, you can speak to our colleagues or use our station screens.
You are only permitted to travel on another train if yours has been cancelled.
If your train is delayed by 15 minutes or more you are eligible to claim money back through Delay Repay.
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