Flood water rising above the tracks has closed the railway line between Wigan and Southport.
Northern services between Wigan Wallgate and Southport are currently suspended after flooding has made trains "impossible to run".
Northern Rail said they are “doing all they can” to reduce the water levels which started to rise above the line at Parbold and New Lane stations this morning.
A rail replacement bus is in operation leaving from Wigan Wallgate on the hour, and Southport at half past the hour.
The company has said compensation for delays is available for any customers whose journeys are delayed by 15 minutes or longer this afternoon.
Claims can be made by visiting the Northern website and following the links to Delay Repay.
Chris Jackson, Regional Director at Northern, said: “Unfortunately, because of the flood water, we are unable to run our usual services between Southport and Wigan – and this is also impacting those service which would normally travel onwards to Stalybridge and Alderley Edge.
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“Colleagues from Network Rail are at the scene and doing all they can to reduce the water levels and return rail services to the route.
“In the meantime, I am asking our customers to please be patient.
“We will operate buses to keep people on the move, but these will potentially add around an hour to journeys.”
