Northern Trains to continue operating reduced timetable all week

Rail passengers travelling to and from Greater Manchester are being urged to consider only making essential journeys this week as extreme heat continues to disrupt services.

Train operators have warned that the high temperatures can both rail infrastructure and train performance, increasing the likelihood of faults, delays and short-notice cancellations.

⚠️ With continued high temperatures we are reminding people to check before they travel.

Extreme heat can affect both rail infrastructure and train performance. Higher temperatures increase the risk of faults and delays, which can make services less reliable.

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To reduce this… pic.twitter.com/2WgKypFMK0

— NORTHERN 🚆 (@northernassist) June 24, 2026

To minimise disruption, a reduced timetable has been introduced on several routes in and out of Manchester, with fewer services running so operators can focus on keeping trains that do run as reliable as possible. This timetable will continue into Friday.

We’ve introduced ticket easements for this week to help give you some flexibility.

If you have a Northern ticket dated Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 June or Friday 26 June:

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• You can travel on any of our trains earlier on the same day at no extra cost.
• Or you can…

— NORTHERN 🚆 (@northernassist) June 24, 2026

Passengers have been told to expect longer waiting times, busy trains and potential last-minute changes to services.

A statement issued to customers said: “Due to the continued extreme heat, we have significantly reduced the number of trains running on routes in and out of Manchester, and services remain in high demand.

“We strongly recommend customers consider whether their journey is necessary.”

Rail bosses are urging travellers to check their full journey before setting off and to allow extra time if they do need to travel.

The warning comes as temperatures across the region are expected to climb above 30C, placing additional strain on the rail network.

Operators explained that extreme heat can cause rails to expand and equipment to overheat, making services less reliable and increasing the risk of delays.

As a result, services have been scaled back on key routes to reduce pressure on the system and avoid more widespread disruption.

Passengers who do travel are being advised to take precautions, including carrying water and staying hydrated during journeys.

The statement added: “If you feel unwell, please do not board the train and speak to a member of staff for help.”

Travellers can check live service updates using the Northern app or via the National Rail website, where a full list of affected routes has also been published.

Despite the challenges, operators say they are working to keep people moving as efficiently as possible during the heatwave.

A spokesman added: “We’ve introduced ticket easements for this week to help give you some flexibility.

“If you have a Northern ticket dated Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 June or Friday 26 June.

” You can travel on any of our trains earlier on the same day at no extra cost or your can use your ticket on Friday, 26 June or Saturday, 27 June.”