How Storm Eowyn Is Disrupting Travel Plans Across the North – What You Need to Know

Storm Eowyn is gearing up to make life tricky for anyone planning to travel across the North of England and Scotland this Friday, 24th January. With gale-force winds expected to sweep through the region, TransPennine Express has announced significant disruptions to its train services. If you’ve got plans to travel on these routes, you’ll definitely want to read on.

Which routes are affected by Storm Eowyn?

The short answer? Quite a few. The storm is causing chaos on some of the busiest rail routes in the region, with customers being urged not to travel between these specific locations on Friday:

• Liverpool / Manchester Airport / Manchester to Glasgow or Edinburgh via the West Coast Main Line
• York to Newcastle to Edinburgh via the East Coast Main Line

Basically, if your train trip takes you up into Scotland, you’re likely out of luck for the day.

Other parts of the TransPennine Express network will still run, but not without their own challenges. Speed restrictions, route closures, and cancellations are all on the cards, meaning even the services that do operate might be delayed or altered at very short notice.

Football fans, take note

If you’re a football supporter planning to catch the Manchester United v Rangers match on Thursday 23rd January, your return journey on Friday might be severely disrupted. With services to and from Scotland taking a major hit, you might want to reschedule your travel plans or wait until Saturday 25th January to head back.

What are your options if you have tickets?

The good news? You’ve got some flexibility if your journey is affected. TransPennine Express is offering customers a few alternatives:

• You can postpone your trip and use your tickets anytime from Thursday 23rd January to Monday 27th January.
• Prefer not to travel at all? You’re entitled to a full refund without any extra charges. Simply visit their refunds page at www.tpexpress.co.uk/help/refunds to get started.

Stay up to date

With the weather looking unpredictable, it’s a good idea to keep checking for updates before heading out. The TransPennine Express website has the latest travel information, so bookmark this page: www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates.

What’s causing all the trouble?

Storm Eowyn is bringing gale-force winds to the North of England and Scotland, which can make train travel unsafe. High winds can cause debris to fall on tracks, make overhead power lines vulnerable, and create hazardous conditions for trains running at their usual speeds. To keep things as safe as possible, speed restrictions are being enforced, and some routes are being closed altogether.

What should you do next?

If you absolutely have to travel on Friday, be prepared for delays, cancellations, and changes to your plans. But honestly? The best thing you can do is avoid travelling altogether if your journey involves the affected routes. Use your tickets on another day, or claim a refund and wait until the weather calms down.

Storm Eowyn might be causing a headache for now, but with a bit of forward planning, you can avoid getting caught out by the chaos. Stay safe, and keep an eye on those updates!