Train derailment causes delays to rail passengers in North West
- Published
A derailed engineering train has caused huge disruption to rail travellers in the North West.
The train's wheels came off the tracks at Ordsall Lane junction in Eccles, Salford, just after 01:00 GMT.
Trains to and from Manchester Airport were cancelled while services to Scotland via Preston were also hit.
The line was re-opened at 08:00 GMT but Network Rail said that "widespread" problems would continue until 13:00 GMT.
Replacement buses had to be used as the problems affected Arriva Trains Wales, Northern and Transpennine services.
Routes between Manchester and Bolton, Wigan, Chester and Liverpool were all severely affected.
Engineers re-railed the train at 04:00 GMT but work on the tracks took another four hours, causing significant delays.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: "This work had to be completed to ensure the track was safe for trains to run on, but unfortunately this caused severe delays for rush-hour customers."
Trains between Manchester and Liverpool started running at 08:00 GMT, while Virgin Train services also resumed to Scotland but with delays.