Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard of Storm Goretti by now. An amber weather warning has been issued from this evening until Friday morning, between 8pm and 9am, with Birmingham in the middle of it. Expect snow, strong winds and heavy rain.
As you might expect, this may make it difficult for trains to run safely. In very cold weather, snow and ice can build up on the tracks, while ice can coat the overhead power cables, preventing trains from drawing the power. Icicles on tunnels, bridges and other structures can also damage trains and overhead power cables.
Passengers in the West Midlands are being advised to check before travelling, for this reason, as huge changes to train services are expected over the coming hours and days. From 7pm, some trains across the West Midlands will run on a reduced timetable.
What trains are affected by Storm Goretti?
Across the CrossCountry network, the following alterations have so far been confirmed. Starting from 3pm (Thursday, January 8), there will be a reduced frequency of one train per hour on the following routes:
- Manchester Piccadilly – Birmingham New Street
- Birmingham New Street – Reading
- Birmingham New Street – Bristol Temple Meads
Trains running between Nottingham and Birmingham New Street / Cardiff Central and Nottingham will also be running at a reduced frequency.
Then, on Friday, January 9, service will be suspended on the following routes:
- Between Manchester Piccadilly and Bristol Temple Meads / Paignton direct (all day). Other CrossCountry trains will run in these areas
- Birmingham New Street and Stansted Airport (until 10am)
- CrossCountry services will not call at Birmingham International or Coventry (all day). Services between Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth will be diverted via Solihull
While a reduced frequency will operate on the following routes on Friday:
- Between Cardiff Central / Birmingham New Street and Nottingham
- Between Birmingham New Street and Leicester
Passengers are being warned that these trains that do run may be delayed, cancelled or altered at late notice.
Meanwhile, Chiltern Railways has warned of disruption from 5pm this evening, and one service per hour is operating in each direction between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone on Friday, January 9.
What about locally?
A reduced timetable will be in place on several West Midlands Railway routes from 3pm. Services will be suspended between Birmingham New Street and Hereford from 2:40pm (last services departing New Street at 12:50pm) and between Redditch and Four Oaks from 7pm.