Trains between Wolverhampton and Stafford face all-day disruption - here's why and what to do with your ticket

National Rail warned passengers of disruption on the line on Sunday (December 29) morning.

In a notice to its website, it said trains running between the stations could be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or diverted until the end of the day.

The disruption has been caused by damage to the overhead electric wires between Wolverhampton and Penkridge.

The notice to passengers read: "A limited number of trains will be able to run between Stafford and Wolverhampton whilst repairs are taking place. 

"This is because both lines will need to be closed as and when required to allow staff to safely complete their work. Therefore, a reduced number will be scheduled to run to avoid congestion."

It has resulted in disruption to Avanti West Coast services between Stafford and Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton and London Euston and Preston and Birmingham New Street.

CrossCountry services between Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street, Bournemouth, Reading and Southampton Central have been affected.

London Northwestern Railway services between Stafford and Birmingham New Street have also been impacted.

Writing to X, formerly Twitter, just after 8am, London Northwestern Railway said: "Line blocked between Wolverhampton and Stafford. Due to a fault with the overhead wires, trains cannot run along this route.

"Rail replacement coaches have been booked to run hourly between the two stations. Disruption is expected to last all day, we do apologise."

Passengers travelling to and from Wolverhampton also faced disruption on Saturday (December 28) as a result of incomplete engineering works.

What can passengers do?

National Rail has issued advice to rail passengers affected by the disruption.

For those travelling with CrossCountry, replacement road transport is said to be running between Wolverhampton and Stafford, departing from Wolverhampton at 20 minutes past every hour and from Stafford at 30 minutes past every hour.

London Northwestern Railway customers can board rail replacement buses also running between Wolverhampton and Stafford, National Rail said.

The railway group further advised that tickets are being accepted on a number of services including:

• Avanti West Coast running between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton

• Avanti West Coast running between Nuneaton and Manchester Piccadilly via Stoke-on-Trent

• London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway on any "reasonable route"

• Transport for Wales between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly