National rail services across the North West are being disrupted due to industrial action and staff shortages caused by Covid-19.

Passengers are being advised to check before they travel- up to the last minute- that the service is running as planned using nationalrail.co.uk

A spokesperson for Northern Railway said: “The festive period is always a busy time for the railway with many services expected to be popular with leisure travellers and customers travelling home for Christmas.

“We will be operating as many services as possible but there may be changes to timetables and there are a number of line closures to allow Network Rail to complete essential engineering and upgrade works.

“We are also asking all customers to continue to follow national guidance and wear a face covering (except where exempt) on trains and at stations and to be respectful of each other and our colleagues across the network.”

Avanti West Coast said they are doing everything they can to ensure a full timetable however, some short notice cancellations are to be expected - as a result they have removed all peak restrictions over the Christmas period.

Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience director for TransPennine Express said: “We are doing all we can to keep people moving on the run up to Christmas Day, however a lack of available staff caused by industrial relations issues as well as sickness due to Covid is causing disruption to some of our services."

CrossCountry trains are the latest to be affected by strike action, due to an assault on the role of guard.

The Rail Union RMT have told their members not to work on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

General secretary Mike Lynch said: "This dispute could have been resolved weeks ago if our members were simply allowed to get on with their jobs rather than having their long-term futures and their safety critical roles threatened by this cash-led assault by Cross Country . The company have knocked back that sensible and rational approach and that's why services are disrupted today."