Autumn and winter rainfall brought water level improvements in reservoirs and canals enabling gradual reopenings. However some reservoir levels remain very low and full recovery could take many more months.
Updated January 29th. Changes since September 1st 2025 are in italics.
In the North of England the Pocklington Canal now open booked passage call 03030 404040. The Ripon Canal has now reopened. On the (Yorkshire) River Ouse levels have improved and navigation is now passable.
On the Leeds & Liverpool Canal All sections are now reopened with Restricted opening at Bank Newton, Gargrave, Bingley 5 & 3 Rise, Kirkstall Forge and Newlay locks. The Rochdale Canal Locks 5 to 92 have reopened. Tuel Lane Lock 1 – 4 Restricted opening call 03030 404040 to book. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal between locks 1W and 22W has reopened. The remainder of the canal from L1E to L42E will remain closed as water levels in the reservoirs that feed the canal have shown little increase in levels. The Lancaster Canal Glasson Branch has now reopened. On the Chesterfield Canal Kilton Lock (Worksop Manton Lock) & Bracebridge Lock require Assisted Passage. On the River Trent Stoke Lock 4, Hazelford Lock 12 and Cromwell Lock 15 are still subject to Low water levels.
On North West canals the Trent & Mersey Canal Locks 41 to 75 have reopened. Lock 19 Shade House Lock to Lock 13 Bagnall Lock have reopened. Aston Lock 26 Restricted passage. Harecastle Tunnel is now Restricted passage. The Caldon Canal has reopened from Etruria to Froghall Basin. The Ashton Canal has been reopened. The Macclesfield Canal Bosley Lock Flight reopened. The Peak Forest Canal Marple Lock Flight is now reopened. Stop planks have been removed from the Macclesfield Canal between Bridge 44 and Bosley Top Lock and the Peak Forest Canal between Bridge 28 (New Mills area) and Bridge 38 (Whaley Bridge).
In the Midlands the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal Brades, Spon Lane, Smethwick, and Aston lock flights remain closed. On the Coventry Canal Calcutt Lock 1 (Top Lock) through to Lock 23 (Radford Bottom Lock) closed. Glascote Lock 13 to Fradley Swing Bridge has now reopened. On the BCN the Old Main Line Wolverhampton Lock Flight, Smethwick Locks and the Rushall Canal Lock Flight have been reopened. The Walsall Canal is now reopened. On the Worcester & Birmingham Canal the Tardebigge Lock Flight is now reopened. The South Stratford Canal has now reopened.
On the River Severn Gloucester Lock is now open with Restricted passage.
On the Southern waterways on the Grand Union Canal mainline the Ten Mile Pound between Bordesley Junction and Knowle Locks has now reopened. Hatton Locks are now open without restrictions. Braunston Locks 1 to 6, Buckby Locks 7 to 13, Stoke Bruerne Locks 14 to 20 restrictions removed. Calcutt Lock 1 (Top Lock) through to Lock 23 (Radford Bottom Lock) has now reopened. The Grand Union Leicester Line has now reopened. The Welford Arm has now reopened. The Aylesbury Arm is now fully open.
The Oxford Canal from Claydon Top Lock 17 to Aynho Weir Lock 33 via Marston Doles Locks has been reopened. Braunston Junction has Low Water Levels.
On the Lee Navigation Tottenham Lock has now fully reopened. River Stort Lock 14 Brick Lock to Lock 15 Lower Lock, Low water levels.
Information is summarised from the Notices and Stoppages section of the Canal and River Trust website at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices.
