At about half past five today (Saturday) I was rather startled to see a long string of VSTP (Very Short Term Planning) timetable updates which have cancelled every train on the Liverpool/Wigan/Preston service tomorrow.
I am not aware of any announced closure of this line on Christmas Eve so if this is genuine there will be some unhappy people at St Helens station tomorrow.
I notice National Rail are still showing the trains as running, suggesting this is merely a database wobble. Let's hope so! I wonder if someone has pressed the wrong button shortly before going home.
P.S. I checked Real Time Trains, and they also show the trains as cancelled, so at least I can rule out a problem in my software.
Update Sunday 10:00: National Rail are now showing these as cancelled due to shortage of train crew, and so far nothing has run through St Helens.
Update Sunday 13:45: A handful of services have just been re-instated, with one train making two out and back trips Liverpool - Wigan.
