The prospect of cancelled trains has become an everyday occurrence for travellers in the north.
For some months now, local operator TransPennine Express (TPE) has regularly been cancelling dozens of services each day, leaving passengers from Merseyside and around the north deeply frustrated.
A Guardian investigation from earlier this year found during the October half term TPE cancelled 30% of all its trains. And just last month a total of 294 trains were cancelled in a seven day period to November 25. TPE told the Guardian the cancellations were due to train sickness, intensive crew training, and infrastructure outside the service's control.
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And today is no different when it comes to cancellations, which could spell trouble for those looking to travel in time for Christmas. Already today the TPE website has confirmed 46 cancellations of its services. This list was last updated at 2.30pm so there could be further cancellations to come today.
Amongst those cancellations there are 13 scrapped services involving Liverpool. This means trains either departing from the city or heading in.
Some of those cancelled services include the 6.19pm Lime Street to Cleethorpes, the 6.24pm Lime Street to Newcastle and the 7.17pm Lime Street to Cleethorpes. These cancelled services could provide a real travel headache for people finishing work and heading home for the festive period.
Speaking about recent cancellations, a TPE spokesperson said: "We are extremely sorry for the disruption our customers have faced – and continue to face – particularly given the time of year when we know so many rely on our service, and are doing all we can to keep people on the move."
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