NORTHERN urging its customers to plan their rail travel carefully over the bank holiday weekend.

The company is warning wide-ranging Network Rail engineering work and other disruption on Easter Sunday will see it running amended timetables in the North-West with some reduced services and cancellations

Northern operates services on the East Lancashire line from Preston through Blackburn and Burnley to Colne and the line from Clitheroe to Manchester. Customers are advised to check up before travelling.

Paul Barnfield, Northern's service delivery director, said: “We plan to run as many services as possible on Easter Sunday and will provide the best possible service on key routes to the most popular destinations. However, engineering work across the region, coupled with other changes we have had to make, means there are fewer trains.

“Some routes will have no services at all, while others may have a limited service, with rail replacement buses operating in some areas.

“It’s vital Northern customers plan ravel carefully, allow extra time for journeys and keep an eye out for changes – even up to the last minute."

Affected services include Blackpool to Colne and York. Rochdale to Leeds, and Salford Central to Clitheroe.

Full details of Northern’s timetables for the Easter weekend – including engineering work and Easter Sunday - are published online tomorrow at northernrailway.co.uk or at nationalrail.co.uk.