TRAVELLERS from East Lancashire looking to escape to Manchester over the Easter weekend are likely to hit problems, according to railway bosses.

Major engineering works will shut down Manchester Victoria station over the weekend break, as part of electrification works.

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Work to install automatic ticket barriers at Manchester Victoria, affecting passengers from the Ribble Valley, Blackburn and Darwen, has also now been completed.

A Northern Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail has requested access to the line at several points across our network to carry out essential safety and improvement work.

“The major project being undertaken is signalling and electrification work around at Manchester Victoria station. This has resulted in the temporary closure of the lines into the station and made it necessary to run alternative transport.”

Bus replacements will be running from Blackburn station from 5.48am onwards today for the Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria route, which also affects Darwen and Entwistle passengers.

Similar provisions will be laid on in the opposite direction, with buses also running on Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday.

The same will apply for Easter Sunday, beginning at 8.15am towards Manchester, with the last replacement bus leaving for the city at 11.15pm. The last service from Manchester Victoria, arriving in Darwen at 10.15pm and Blackburn at 10.30pm.

Replacement buses are also in place for those in Chorley, Adlington and Buckshaw Park, travelling to either Preston and Blackpool, or Manchester and Stockport.