Greater Manchester’s transport network is struggling to cope as Storm Franklin batters the region, and people are being advised not to travel.
Trams, trains and the road network are all experience delays, cancellations and closures due to high winds.
The Met office has issued a yellow weather warning across much of the UK until 1pm today.
Many train companies are urging people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Some of the most major disruption to travel caused by Storm Franklin today is on the M60.
ADVERTISEMENT
A section of the busy motorway near Trafford Park is closed in both directions due to an overturned lorry.
A deserted M60 this morning during Storm Franklin while an overturned lorry is recovered
The M60 is closed clockwise between J9 and J11, and anti-clockwise between J11 and J10, while the vehicle – which is resting on the central reservation – is recovered.
The A34 Kingsway is closed in both directions near Mauldeth Road due to a fallen tree, while flooding has closed Flixton Road in Carrington and the A555 near Styal Road.
Several smaller roads across the region are also blocked by fallen trees, so avoiding travel is advised.
ADVERTISEMENT
On public transport, train services in and out of Manchester are facing delays and cancellations.
Northern Rail cancelled all of its services this morning.
⛔️Due to the severe weather and numerous incidents, caused by #StormFranklin, we will be terminating all services in the North West. No further trains until at least 10:30, and this might be extended. Do not attempt to travel, do not head to stations as there are no alternatives. pic.twitter.com/55X7aAnT4k
Storm Franklin has also wreaked on Metrolink lines today, with a fallen tree near Victoria halting services on the Bury and Rochdale lines.
The tree has now been removed, but services are still experiencing delays while everything gets back up and running.
ADVERTISEMENT
Metrolink passengers are still able to use their tram tickets on bus services 41, 97, 98, 135 and 524 (for the Bury line) and 59, 81, 83, 181, 182 and 184 (for the Rochdale line).
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
News
Council announces Manchester’s Remembrance Sunday 2025 parade plans and road closures
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to remember the fallen during this year’s annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
With Remembrance Day only a few weeks away now, just as it does each year, Manchester City Council has now revealed the details of how the city will mark this important occasion, and has confirmed all the details of the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade on 9 November.
Proceedings will start on John Dalton Street at 10:30am, and run right through until midday – with the service itself being held at 11am.
Veterans, military personnel and cadets, all led by Greater Manchester Police‘s Band, will march from John Dalton Street to the Cenotaph St. Peter’s Square.
This will be followed by a short return march to Mount Street across St Peter’s Square.
Manchester’s Remembrance Sunday 2025 parade plans and road closures have been announced / Credit: Manchester City Council
Civic dignitaries, servicemen and women, service and ex-service organisations, faith leaders, emergency services, and other uniformed organisations, have all been invited to lay traditional poppy wreaths and pay their respects at the Cenotaph, along with members of the public.
As always, a two-minute silence will be observed at 11am, with the start and finish of this silence marked by the firing of a maroon.
In order for necessary security checks and safeguards to be carried out, Manchester City Council has confirmed that a series of road closures will be implemented on Remembrance Sunday itself between 7am and 1pm.
The following road closures will be in place:
John Dalton Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)
Princess Street (Cross St to Portland St) with a ‘hard closure’ at Back George St
Cross Street (Princess Street to King Street)
Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street) with a ‘hard closure’ at Watson Street
Oxford Street (Peter Street to Portland Street) with a ‘hard closure’ at Hale Street
Mount Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square)
Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Southmill Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square)
Bootle Street (Deansgate to Mount Street)
Lloyd Street (Deansgate to Southmill)
Jackson’s Row (Deansgate to Southmill)
Central Street (Southmill to Mount Street)
Cooper Street (Kennedy Street to Princess Street)
West Mosely Street (Booth Street to Princess Street)
Clarence Street (Princess Street to Kennedy Street)
Bow Lane (Clarence Street to Princess Street)
St James’s Square (South King Street to John Dalton Street)
Ridgefield (Mulberry Street to John Dalton Street)
A number of other parking suspensions, tram suspensions, taxi rank, and bus lane suspensions will also be in place from as early as 6pm on Saturday 8 November.
You can find out more information about these suspensions on the Council website.
Prince Andrew set to lose titles and leave Royal Lodge residence
Danny Jones
Prince Andrew is officially set to lose his royal titles and vacate his current residence, as per a direct communication from Buckingham Palace.
Most crucially, the statement makes a rather notable acknowledgement of the abuse claims still looming over the 65-year-old.
The decision was shared by the Royal Family and the likes of the BBC on Thursday evening, 30 October, with confirmation that the King’s brother will no longer be known as a prince, nor will he live at the Royal Lodge in Berkshire.
With countless people reacting online, this public address is a watershed moment for the monarchy.
BREAKING: The man once know as Prince, to be called Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. He is also out of Royal Lodge and going to Sandringham pic.twitter.com/RGT2NRgU7h
The official update on behalf of King Charles III reads as follows: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.
“Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
You can find out more about the formal process now said to be underway in more detail down below.
As yet, there has been no official response from Andrew Windsor or his representative regarding the breaking news.
Elsewhere, it is said that his daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, will retain their own royal titles, as they are still the daughters of the son of a Sovereign (in accordance with King George V’s Letters Patent of 1917).
As for the now former Duke of York, the King’s younger brother and third child of the late Queen Elizabeth II, he is now preparing to relocate and settle into the royal estate at Sandringham.
This move is being privately paid for by the King, according to reports.
Daisy Jackson -
21st February 2022 
