A significant emergency incident in Ashton-under-Lyne has triggered a massive response from police and ambulance services, causing widespread cancellation of all train services through the area on Thursday evening.
Emergency Services Scramble to Incident
Dozens of ambulances and police vehicles raced to the scene following an undisclosed incident occurring on November 6, 2025. The situation prompted National Rail to announce a full closure of all railway lines between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge shortly after 7:20pm.
In an official statement, National Rail confirmed: ‘The emergency services dealing with an incident between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge means all lines are closed.’ They further warned passengers that trains running through the area could face cancellations, delays of up to 30 minutes, or be subject to timetable revisions.
Widespread Travel Chaos for Commuters
The closure has created substantial disruption for rail operators and passengers across the North of England. Disruption is currently expected to continue until at least 8pm, though this estimate could change as the situation develops.
Northern rail services have been severely impacted on routes between Southport, Wigan North Western and Stalybridge. Furthermore, TransPennine Express has experienced major disruptions affecting multiple key routes:
- Services between Liverpool Lime Street and Hull, and Newcastle.
- Services running between Manchester Airport and Redcar Central, and Saltburn.
- All services operating between Manchester Victoria and Scarborough.
Ongoing Investigation and Passenger Advice
The precise nature of the incident remains unclear at this time. The British Transport Police (BTP) has been approached for comment regarding the ongoing situation. Passengers are strongly advised to check live travel updates with National Rail or their specific train operator before beginning their journeys, as the disruption is expected to continue into the evening.
