PASSENGERS are being advised not to travel today on the LNER route from York to London and Edinburgh following 'extreme signalling failures.'

A lightning strike at or near York's signalling box is causing massive disruption to train services - and causing level crossing barriers to stay down.

LNER tweeted: "Advice to passengers again is not to travel today due to the extreme signalling failures throughout the route.

"Do not travel today. Tickets will be valid for tomorrow (28/07/2018) and Sunday (29/07/2018)."

National Rail Enquiries said a major fault with the signalling system between Leeds and York meant that most lines at both these stations were blocked.

"As a result, trains between these stations may be delayed by up to 2 hours or cancelled," it said. "Major disruption is expected until 16:45."

Northern is advising customers not to travel at this time in the Yorkshire area 'due to severe infrastructure failure caused by lightning strikes.

"The only services Northern are able to operate at this time in the affected area are:

Sheffield to Lincoln

Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly

Hull to Scarborough

"All other routes are blocked in the Yorkshire area at this time.

"Unfortunately Northern are unable to provide road transport due to the scale of the disruption."

A Network Rail spokeswoman said the disruption was 'widespread and significant,' with trains unable to go north out of York railway station and west towards Leeds, although they could still travel southwards.

She said level crossings were connected to the signalling system, and their default position would be to remain down for traffic.

Press reporter Daniel Willers said the barriers in Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton, appeared to be stuck in the down position, with traffic building up behind them.

The spokeswoman said the signalling system had been affected by lightning which either struck the signalling box or somewhere close by this morning, and efforts were being made to resolve the problem.

"We can only apologise for the disruption caused," she added.

National Rail Enquiries has tweeted to TransPennine Express customers that replacement road transport has been requested at Manchester Piccadilly, Huddersfield, Leeds, York, Hull, Scarborough and Stalybridge.

It also tweeted that Northern is advising customers not to travel at this time in the Yorkshire area 'due to severe infrastructure failure caused by lightning strikes.'