FOLLOWING the train derailment at Grayrigg on Friday, (February 23), rail services using the West Coast main line have been severely disrupted.

Virgin West Coast services will be replaced with buses between Lancaster and Penrith, and Virgin Cross Country services will be replaced with buses between Preston and Carlisle.

Passengers travelling from the south to Lockerbie, Carstairs, Motherwell or Glasgow must change at Preston for an express bus service directly to Carlisle for onward connections.

Passengers travelling from the south for stations between Lancaster and Carlisle must change at Lancaster for a bus service, calling at Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle.

Passengers travelling from the north should change at Carlisle. People heading to London can use Northern Rail services to Newcastle or Leeds to connect with GNER services.

For all other routes, buses will be available from Carlisle for stations to Lancaster.

TransPennine Express services between Preston or Lancaster and Windermere will run between Oxenholme and Windermere in both directions.

Customers can connect with the above bus services to Lancaster and Preston for onward connections.

First ScotRail sleeper services will be diverted until further notice, and will operate through Newcastle.

Passengers for sleeper services should contact National Rail Enquiries for more information.

A new timetable for Virgin Trains weekday services which normally operate from Oxenholme and for bus services between Preston and Carlisle is posted at www.virgintrains.co.uk.

GNER will accept all Virgin Trains tickets between Glasgow and London Kings Cross.

Virgin Trains customers who bought a ticket for travel on the affected route before Saturday, February 24, and no longer want to travel, can get a full refund.

Northern Rail will accept all Virgin Trains tickets between Carlisle and Newcastle.

For more information call National Rail Enquiries on 0845 7 48 49 50 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.virgintrains.co.uk