Chester Railway and Bus Stations Evacuated: Live Updates on Security Alert
Both Chester railway and bus stations have been evacuated with city center streets cordoned off by police due to a security alert. Officers have swarmed the city with roads around the two stations being taped off. According to an eyewitness, there was quite a lot of panic among people in the area. The reason for the security alert is currently unclear. National Rail has confirmed that all rail services in and out of Chester are currently halted due to a security alert at the station. They estimate that the disruption will last until 10 pm.
The evacuation of Chester railway station comes after new figures showed it to be one of the most used stations in the region. According to a report by the Office for Rail and Road, there were 4.7 million entries and exits between April 2023 and March 2024, placing it in the top ten most used stations in the North West.
In an update from National Rail, it was stated that the rail lines have reopened following the security alert at Chester station. However, trains may still be canceled, delayed by up to 60 minutes, or revised to not call at Chester station. Major disruptions are expected to continue until 10:00 pm.
There have been unconfirmed reports of a possible bomb threat at the scene. An eyewitness reported being told by a police officer that there was a significant enough security concern to warrant moving people further back from the area. Further updates are expected as the situation unfolds.
In addition to the railway station, the bus interchange at Chester is also affected by the security alert. StagecoachMCSL announced on Twitter that they are unable to serve Chester Rail station and the bus interchange due to the police incident.
Merseyrail also provided an update regarding the disruption on the Chester line, stating that train services running through the station will be terminated at and started back from Bache.
The situation outside Chester railway station remains tense as authorities continue to investigate the security alert. Police presence is heavy in the area, and members of the public are advised to avoid the vicinity until further notice. Live updates on the situation will continue to be provided as more information becomes available.