Heavy rain throughout Wednesday has caused major disruption on the Chester rail network.

Merseyrail trains have been cancelled between Chester, Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry due to flooding. Merseyrail has announced that rail replacement buses will run between the three destinations.

Transport for Wales has announced cancellations to services between Chester and Shrewsbury due to flooding. Network rail reported heavy rain in the Gobowen area and closed the railway to all services. No trains are therefore running in that area, with a very limited replacement bus service running between Shrewsbury and Chester.

Flooding in the Penyffordd area has also closed the railway to all services, including the route between Wrexham Central and Bidston.

Trains are running between Chester and Crewe, but flooding has meant trains are having to run at reduced speed for safety reasons. As a result, trains may be delayed by up to 30 minutes. This is affecting Transport for Wales trains between Chester and Crewe and Avanti West Coast services between London Euston and Chester/Holyhead.

Further heavy rain is expected this evening in the Chester area, but the weather is expected to improve in the remainder of the week.