[pre65]

More breaking news, from Virgin.


BREAKING NEWS Virgin Trains Virgin Trains, which operates across large parts of the UK including between London and Edinburgh, posted a message in capital letters on its official Twitter account urging "all customers to abandon travel".

Sounds serious.

18:17: Richard Westcott BBC transport correspondent The "majority" of Virgin Trains services have been suspended on the West Coast Mainline. They had so much debris land on the line so quickly that Network Rail need to assess the damage.

18:18: The BBC's Becky Kelly, at Crewe station, says cables that had been on fire are now out but there will be no trains operating from there this evening. Train staff are handing out cold drinks and tea and coffee.
TransPennine Express UPDATE: Due to high winds between #Carlisle and #Preston, lines through these stations are blocked with no available road transport #UKStorm

18:40: Here's the latest from Network Rail on the West Coast Mainline:
Commuter trains are running out of Euston to Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Most will have delays
Virgin fast services are still suspended out of Euston
There are no services north of Nuneaton
Trees on the line and downed electric wires are causing problems at Lichfield, Stafford, Stoke, Crewe, Macclesfield, Stone. Engineering teams won't go in until the wind dies down and it's safe

20:04: Crewe station has re-opened - but it is just to allow stranded passengers to get off their trains.