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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/24/christmas-travel-chaos-northern-rail-cancels-trains
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| Christmas travel chaos as Northern railways cancels trains | Christmas travel chaos as Northern railways cancels trains |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| High levels of sickness blamed for disruption affecting Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester | High levels of sickness blamed for disruption affecting Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester |
| Rail passengers faced chaos on Christmas Eve due to Northern’s cancellations and delays, which the franchise blamed on “unprecedented” sickness levels and drivers on leave. | |
| The affected services include Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester, with passengers advised to check online before travelling. | The affected services include Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester, with passengers advised to check online before travelling. |
| A spokesperson for Northern said: “Alongside the annual leave entitlements at this time of the year, we currently have unprecedented levels of sickness. That means we have some pre-planned cancellations on certain lines. | A spokesperson for Northern said: “Alongside the annual leave entitlements at this time of the year, we currently have unprecedented levels of sickness. That means we have some pre-planned cancellations on certain lines. |
| “We are sorry for any disruption customers may face. Please check our website before you travel.” | “We are sorry for any disruption customers may face. Please check our website before you travel.” |
| The franchise said customers will have a range of alternative options available to them including other Northern services. | The franchise said customers will have a range of alternative options available to them including other Northern services. |
| There are replacement buses operating between Liverpool Lime Street and Wigan North West, a reduced service from Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield, and a combination of both between Lancaster and Morecambe. | There are replacement buses operating between Liverpool Lime Street and Wigan North West, a reduced service from Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield, and a combination of both between Lancaster and Morecambe. |
| Earlier this month, passengers protested against Northern, calling for it to be stripped of its franchise. Figures from the Office of Rail and Road show that only 56% of Northern services were on time in the last quarter. | Earlier this month, passengers protested against Northern, calling for it to be stripped of its franchise. Figures from the Office of Rail and Road show that only 56% of Northern services were on time in the last quarter. |
| A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We are developing contingency plans for the replacement of the current franchise with either a new short-term management contract with Northern or the Operator of Last Resort.” | A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We are developing contingency plans for the replacement of the current franchise with either a new short-term management contract with Northern or the Operator of Last Resort.” |
| In the new year, passengers in Tyne and Wear will be affected by a two-day strike owing to a dispute over pay and working conditions | In the new year, passengers in Tyne and Wear will be affected by a two-day strike owing to a dispute over pay and working conditions |
| Nexus, which runs the train service, said members of the RMT union had agreed to strike on 6 and 7 January, coinciding with the return to school and work after the Christmas break. It follows a two-day shutdown of the Metro on Friday and Saturday last week, which affected Christmas shoppers and football fans attending Newcastle United’s home game against Crystal Palace. | |
| Drivers have turned down a 15% pay increase in return for changing practices when a new fleet of trains comes in. | Drivers have turned down a 15% pay increase in return for changing practices when a new fleet of trains comes in. |