RAILWAY bosses say delayed and cancelled trains were not the result of a nationwide change timetable change.

Northern, which runs most of Bolton's trains, implemented a new set of services today to coincide with switches across the country but large numbers of passengers complained after their journeys were disrupted.

Around 38 early morning services across the region were cancelled, including some trips from Manchester Airport to Blackpool North - a key commuter route out of Bolton.

Many passengers took to social media to post images of packed trains or busy platforms.

One commuter, Dean Ratcliffe, said: "It's been awful all weekend. I was going to Blackpool on Friday and a lot were delayed or cancelled. The train I was getting on got cancelled at Salford so I had to go Wigan then Wigan to Blackpool.

"I came back last night and managed to get the 6pm train as well but a few were cancelled. It's been a nightmare."

Edward Robinson added: "It would be news if there were no rail disruption, not the other way round."

While another passenger, David Southern, said: "Since it got colder its been farcical, its an achievement to be on time."

The disruption came on the same day as a timetable change which saw a number of trains across the country run at different times and to different stations.

However, a spokesman for the company said any problems were down to commonly experienced "operational issues" rather than the timetable shift and it is true that Northern has made relatively few alterations to its services this year.

He added: “The new timetable for Northern has performed well.

"The small number of delays and cancellations are due to operational issues including driver sickness, signalling failure and train faults.”