Travel · Rail, Channel & ferries · 28 October 2026
Storm Boelo disrupts North West rail services
Network Rail has announced that Storm Boelo caused major disruption to train journeys in the North West. Most lines reopened on Monday 26 October, though some services remain affected.
Network Rail has confirmed that extreme weather conditions, including torrential rain and gales with gusts of up to 70mph, flooded tracks and damaged infrastructure in the North West. The route director, Chris Wright, said: "We are incredibly grateful to passengers for their patience and continued support."
Figures from the announcement show the team dealt with 357 weather-related issues. They removed 70 trees from the tracks, cleared three items from overhead lines, and responded to nine floods. Crews also repaired four key sections of overhead electrical lines to restore safety and service.
Most railway lines across the North West reopened on Monday 26 October. However, some disruption is still expected. Services may operate to amended timetables or run at reduced speeds while the railway completes its recovery. The guidance advises passengers to check travel information before departing.
The rail industry states it is committed to learning from the weekend to adapt its plans. This includes improving how the railway recovers from future events. TransPennine Express customer experience and transformation director Andrew McClements expressed gratitude to customers for their patience and understanding as staff worked to keep them on the move.
Written by StreetOwl from Network Rail’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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