A major power failure at the Manchester Rail Operating Centre halted services across the Midlands and north-west England on Thursday, bringing parts of the network to a standstill and causing widespread cancellations and delays. "Engineers have been working hard to restore the issue and train services are returning to normal. Chris Wright, route director for Network Rail North West, said: "I’d like to thank passengers for their patience following yesterday’s power outage and the disruption it caused across the North West. "Anyone planning to travel this morning should continue to check before they travel for the latest information." The power outage was linked to an incident in Harpurhey, north-east of Manchester city centre, which affected more than 400 postcodes, including the Manchester Rail Operating Centre.