NORTHERN Rail is warning customers to expect disruption to services this weekend after a coronavirus outbreak among its workforce.

The operator says that ‘a number of frontline staff’ have tested positive for Covid-19 over the past few days, with others isolating as a result.

As a result, ‘services in many areas are likely to be affected’ between Friday and Sunday.

Trains to and from Cumbria are expected to be the most severely impact by the shortage of employees.

Region director Chris Jackson said: “A high proportion of staff based at Barrow and Workington have been instructed to self-isolate.

“This has exacerbated issues we were already experiencing in the region following an increase in the number of employees who have either tested positive for Covid-19 or have had to enter a period of self-isolation.

“Many of these colleagues are drivers and conductors and as such we are left with no option but to cancel some services this week in Cumbria and north Lancashire.

“We are doing all we can to provide the best possible service for customers in extremely difficult circumstances and, where we are not able to run rail services, we will have replacement buses on standby to get our customers where they need to be.

Northern Rail has also warned to expect a higher demand than usual for services on Saturday night due to the European Championship quarter final between England and Ukraine.

Mr Jackson added: “Of course, many people will want to support England and will be travelling to pubs and bars to watch the match.

“With kick off at 8pm that only leaves a handful of trains on our key routes after the match to get people home, and we’re asking our customers to plan ahead and to use all available services.

“We’ll have buses on standby in many places to assist, but customers can help by staggering their journeys and not all waiting for the last train home.”