Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 disruption

If you're planning to take the train over the Christmas and New Year period, please plan ahead and check before you travel.

 There will likely be changes to train services across the rail network over the holiday season.

You can find route-specific information by using the Journey Check tool, plan your journey through the Journey Planner  or view the Northern Timetables page

JOURNEY CHECK JOURNEY PLANNER VIEW TIMETABLES

This page will be updated when we have more information 

 Updated 01/12/2023

Click here to plan a journey

Disruption by days

 Friday 1 to Saturday 9 

Industrial action - Check before travelling - More information here. 

STRIKES INFORMATION PAGE

Saturday 23 December

Standard Timetable 

• After 20:15, buses will replace trains between Leeds and York via Micklefield due to engineering work.

Sunday 24 December

Standard Timetable but services finish early - CHECK BEFORE TRAVELLING

• From 18:00 on Christmas Eve, trains may be cancelled or will terminate short of their normal destination. Most services will be withdrawn by 20:00.
• Buses will replace trains between Leeds and York via Micklefield all day due to engineering work.

Monday 25 December (CHRISTMAS DAY)

No Northern services this day.

Tuesday 26 December (BOXING DAY)

No Northern services this day.

Wednesday 27 December

Standard timetable, but services may start later than usual - CHECK BEFORE TRAVELLING

• Early morning trains may be cancelled late notice, or will start later than normally advertised, until 08:00.
• Due to overnight engineering work, between approximately 23:40 (Wednesday night) and 05:00 (Thursday morning) buses will replace trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.
• Due to late night engineering work in the Liverpool area:
  • 22:47 Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street service will not call at West Allerton, Mossley Hill and Edge Hill. A rail replacement bus service will run between Liverpool South Parkway and Liverpool Lime Street.
  • 23:28 Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street service will terminate at Warrington Central. A rail replacement bus service will run between Warrington Central and Liverpool Lime Street.

• Due to late night engineering work, the 22:51 Preston to Colne service will terminate at Rose Grove. A rail replacement bus service will run between Rose Grove and Colne.

   

Thursday 28 December

Standard Timetable 

• Due to overnight engineering work, between approximately 23:40 (Thursday night) and 05:00 (Friday morning) buses will replace trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.
• Due to late night engineering work in the Liverpool area:
  • 22:47 Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street service will not call at West Allerton, Mossley Hill and Edge Hill. A rail replacement bus service will run between Liverpool South Parkway and Liverpool Lime Street.
  • 23:28 Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street service will terminate at Warrington Central. A rail replacement bus service will run between Warrington Central and Liverpool Lime Street.

• Due to late-night engineering work, the 22:51 Preston to Colne service will terminate at Rose Grove. A rail replacement bus service will run between Rose Grove and Colne.

   

Friday 29 December

Standard Timetable 

Saturday 30 December

Standard Timetable - Engineering work may affect journeys - CHECK BEFORE TRAVELLING

• Due to engineering work, buses will replace trains between Doncaster and Hull via Goole.
• Due to engineering work, trains in both directions between Manchester Victoria and Leeds via Dewsbury will be diverted to run via Halifax and Bradford Interchange, and will not call at Brighouse, Dewsbury, Batley and Morley. Buses will be provided between Halifax and Leeds via Dewsbury and Brighouse.
• Due to engineering work between Manchester and Bolton, the following changes will be made:
  • Trains between Manchester Airport and Barrow-in-Furness / Windermere will only run between Bolton and Barrow-in-Furness / Windermere.
  • Trains between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport will be diverted via Wigan North Western and will not call at stations via Bolton.
  • Trains between Southport and Manchester Oxford Road will only run between Southport and Bolton.
  • Trains between Manchester Victoria and Clitheroe will only run between Bolton and Clitheroe.
  • Rail replacement buses will be provided between Bolton and Manchester Victoria / Manchester Piccadilly.
  • Trains between Wigan Wallgate and Leeds will only run between Manchester Victoria and Leeds.
  • Rail replacement buses will be provided between Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria via Atherton.

Sunday 31 December (NEW YEARS EVE)

Standard Timetable - Engineering work may affect journeys - CHECK BEFORE TRAVELLING

• Due to engineering work, buses will replace trains between Doncaster and Hull via Goole.
• Due to engineering work, trains in both directions between Manchester Victoria and Leeds via Dewsbury will be diverted to run via Halifax and Bradford Interchange, and will not call at Brighouse, Dewsbury, Batley and Morley. Buses will be provided between Halifax and Leeds via Dewsbury and Brighouse.
• Due to engineering work between Manchester and Bolton, the following changes will be made:
  • Trains between Manchester Airport and Barrow-in-Furness / Windermere will only run between Bolton and Barrow-in-Furness / Windermere.
  • Trains between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport will be diverted via Wigan North Western and will not call at stations via Bolton.
  • Trains between Southport and Manchester Oxford Road will only run between Southport and Bolton.
  • Trains between Manchester Victoria and Clitheroe will only run between Bolton and Clitheroe.
  • Rail replacement buses will be provided between Bolton and Manchester Victoria / Manchester Piccadilly.
  • Trains between Wigan Wallgate and Leeds will only run between Manchester Victoria and Leeds.
  • Rail replacement buses will be provided between Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria via Atherton.

Monday 1 January 2024 (NEW YEARS DAY)

Standard Timetable - Engineering work may affect journeys - CHECK BEFORE TRAVELLING

• Due to engineering work, trains in both directions between Manchester Victoria and Leeds via Dewsbury will be diverted to run via Halifax and Bradford Interchange, and will not call at Brighouse, Dewsbury, Batley and Morley. Buses will be provided between Halifax and Leeds via Dewsbury and Brighouse.
• Due to engineering work between Manchester and Bolton, the following changes will be made:
  • Trains between Manchester Airport and Barrow-in-Furness / Windermere will not run.
  • Trains between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport will be diverted via Wigan North Western and will not call at stations via Bolton.
  • Trains between Southport and Manchester Oxford Road will only run between Southport and Bolton.
  • Trains between Manchester Victoria and Clitheroe will only run between Bolton and Clitheroe.
  • Rail replacement buses will be provided between Bolton and Manchester Victoria / Manchester Piccadilly.
  • Trains between Wigan Wallgate and Leeds will only run between Manchester Victoria and Leeds.
  • Rail replacement buses will be provided between Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria via Atherton.

Rail Replacement 

Rail replacement bus stop locations can be found on both the Useful Information Posters and, where installed, on dedicated green rail replacement posters at stations.

Please note rail replacement buses are unable to carry:

• Heavy luggage
• Non-folding bicycles, prams or scooters
• Animals (other than registered assistance dogs).

Please note that hot food, drinks, and alcoholic drinks cannot be consumed on bus services.

You can also visit the Help section for our current availability on accessible buses for planned engineering works.

Passenger Assist

Our Passenger Assist service is available from all affected stations for customers requiring mobility assistance. Where possible, we recommend booking assistance in advance by calling 0800 138 5560 (Text Relay 18001 0800 138 5560), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or online. You can also book your travel assistance via the Passenger Assistance app.