The full extent of railway flooding after a water main burst has been captured in incredible drone footage. Network Rail filmed the situation from the skies, with the footage showing thousands of gallons of free-flowing water poring over track lines in and around Audenshaw, Tameside.
United Utilities, meanwhile, said in an update on Friday it was continuing to repair the burst main next to the railway at Audenshaw without disrupting water supplies to customers in the area.
The track cannot be re-opened until the water has drained away - with the situation continuing to impact train services between Manchester Piccadilly, Hadfield and Stalybridge.
Specialist drone teams from Network Rail have been surveying the tracks between Gorton and Guide Bridge after the burst early on Thursday. Trains running between Manchester Piccadilly to Leeds via Stalybridge and on the Glossop line are being impacted for a second day.
Disruption to some TransPennine Express services continues, and anyone travelling in or out of Manchester from Yorkshire is being advised by Network Rail to check before they travel. Replacement shuttle buses are running.
Railway engineers are assisting United Utilities with getting access to make its repairs to the pipe.
"This is being carefully planned so it can happen while allowing trains to run again at the same time the repair work takes place beside the tracks," Network Rail said.
Train services were cancelled in both directions on Thursday between Manchester Piccadilly, Rose Hill and Hadfield, which included Stalybridge and Leeds services via Guide Bridge. Flood waters first began covering the lines in the Fairfield area in the early hours of yesterday.
United Utilities said it was 'making good progress' but due to the size and location of the water main and the complexity of the water network which it normally feeds, 'it is taking some time'.
They said in a statement: "United Utilities engineers are carrying out a complex operation to re-route water supplies through other parts of the water network. This is being done in two phases, the first of which is complete, and the second is now under way.
Phil Sweeney, United Utilities incident manager, said: "Our priority is to maintain water supplies for our customers. We are aware that a small number in the Droylsden area may have noticed fluctuations in water pressure this morning, but we are making arrangements to restore their supply through alternative means this afternoon.
"We are very sorry for the inconvenience this is causing, particularly to rail travellers. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to isolate the main and stabilise the area of the burst so that repairs can get underway and the track can re-open.
"We are working closely with colleagues at Network Rail on a plan that will allow our engineers to work safely next to the track while trains can start to run again.”
Chris Pye, Network Rail's North West infrastructure director, said: “We're sorry to passengers impacted for a second day by the burst water main and resulting flooding which United Utilities is working hard to contain in Audenshaw.
"I'd please ask people planning on travelling on the Glossop Line and between Manchester and Leeds via Stalybridge to check National Rail Enquiries before they set off on their journey today. Trains may be diverted and in some cases passengers may need to get on a rail replacement bus service."
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