De-icer teams and empty trains to help tackle any snow disruption across North West

Chris Pye, Network Rail’s North West route infrastructure director, said: “Snow and ice always pose a challenge at this time of the year, not only to the track, it can also obscure signals and causes branches to fall from trees on to the line.

“We work hard to ensure that points, which we use to direct trains on the track, don’t become compacted with snow and ice. We have teams who can monitor these remotely and further teams on standby ready to respond to heavy snow, should it be needed.”

Across the Merseyrail network the first service of the day on each line will run without customers to enable conditions to be checked.

If predicted ice and snow arrives, Merseyrail and Network Rail said they would work together to run as many first trains as possible.

Customers are being urged to check the Merseyrail and National Rail website, and social media before they travel.

Transport for Greater Manchester said they would be gritting bus stations and interchanges, and running trams overnight to keep overhead lines clear of frost.

Platforms and crossings were also being treated with grit and anti-icing measures to keep them safe for use.