Railway line to shut over Storm Goretti snow fears

A railway line through the Peak District is set to be closed in anticipation of Storm Goretti.

With a Met Office amber warning in place for heavy snow coming into force, Network Rail will close the Hope Valley Line between Sheffield and Manchester from 18:00 GMT on Thursday.

Operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) said its usual services along the north Derbyshire line would not operate until Saturday as a result.

Passengers travelling on other routes are being asked to check their journeys before setting off.

People with tickets booked on affected Hope Valley Line services can travel earlier on Thursday or on Saturday's services, an EMR spokesperson said.

EMR tickets will also be accepted on TransPennine Express and Northern services between Sheffield and Manchester until the line shuts.

No rail replacement services will be operating during the closure "due to the severe weather conditions".

Network Rail regional director Jake Kelly said: "While Storm Goretti is forecast to impact most of Britain, there are some areas that could be more affected than others, so our best advice to customers is simply to arm themselves with the best information they can, from National Rail or their operators.

"In the meantime, we are working hard to get the network as best prepared as we can so we can keep rail customers moving."

The centre of Storm Goretti - named as the first storm of the year by French forecasters - is due to pass either through the English Channel or over the English Channel coastal counties on Thursday night, according to BBC Weather.

The storm will likely undergo "explosive cyclogenesis" - sometimes called a "weather bomb".

The term is used where the central pressure drops by 1 millibar (mb) an hour over a 24-hour period. Explosive cyclogenesis is generally a sign of a storm that could bring strong winds.

The greatest likelihood of significant snow will be through Wales and the Midlands, where there will be 5-10cm (1.9-3.9in), and perhaps in excess of 20cm (7.8in), especially on higher ground.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts for England, which will run until Sunday.

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