PEOPLE are being urged to show patience on the rail network as services face an ‘unprecedented time’ while Victoria Station remains closed following Monday’s terrorist attack.

The station is expected to stay shut into the weekend and trains and Metrolink services are unable to use it.

Pictures have emerged of extremely crowded services between Bolton and Manchester and one commuter has raised concerns about health and safety.

Train provider Northern has said that it is 'extremely difficult' to get the extra trains and carriages it could otherwise utilise as Victoria is a crucial part of the network.

Adam Derbyshire, aged 31, of Halliwell, has shared pictures showing the crowded trains.

He said that he takes on board the fact that disruption is unavoidable given what has happened but is worried someone could get hurt in the crowded conditions.

He was on the 5.30pm service to Blackpool North on Wednesday and said that people were stepping on each other and being squashed by one another and conductors were still allowing people on. He said that he saw similar circumstances on a 7.12am train from Bolton to Manchester airport yesterday.

Northern said there has been a significant impact on its services in the Greater Manchester region and it is doing everything it can to maintain service levels.

Liam Sumpter, regional director at Northern, said: “We are doing everything possible to continue to provide as resilient as rail service as we can and will work as quickly as possible to return services to normal operation once Victoria is open.

“However, further alterations to services across the region should be expected until Manchester Victoria is fully reopened.”

Northern asked passengers for patience during the disruption.

There will also be changes to Northern services between Saturday and Tuesday through Bolton.

Engineering work will be taking work to upgrade and electrify the route and buses are replacing some Northern trains.

Trains between Blackburn and Bolton are among those being replaced by buses.

For timetables go to www.northernrailway.co.uk