Yes, but the poster you were replying to was complaining that he couldn't get this information from social media feeds. As Iskra said, this kind of information will be very station specific. It will likely also be very time specific, changing as the situation evolves. Other posts on here suggest that information was being given out at stations, in the kind of way that you suggest. However, it just isn't practical to give out this kind of information on social media feeds, as the volume of information would totally overwhelm the feeds.
Unfortunately people seem to be increasingly reliant on the internet, and totally helpless without it.
Hmmm, I'm not sure relying on the internet is a bad thing. In fact it is a tool that TOCs / NR really ought to be using more effectively in situations like this. If information can be given out at stations to hundreds of people, it can also be offered to many more online. This is something that needs to be learnt from this situation, have processes and staff ready to be able to communicate fast changing information, that might mean that people don't even have to swarm to the station to be told "get the 36 to Bolton".
In my case I didn't even attempt to head to a station, I knew what would be waiting for me. As I work at St Peter's Square, my first instinct was a tram to Altrincham where I thought it might be possible that Mid Cheshires would turn back at, as has happened in the past with disruptions in Manchester. But I also knew that failing that, I had options to use a couple Warrington buses to complete my journey, or if things really went south I could at least park in a pub and order a taxi as it would be considerably cheaper getting one there than in central Manchester. I made this decision from my desk, using only the internet to check connection times, and for any issues on the tram network.
So for a wider audience, if the decision is made to advise people to not travel by train (and that is what should be told, not a more arse-covering "do not travel"), then signpost people to alternatives. For example for punters in Manchester, signpost them to the TfM journey planner if their destination is going to be within Great Manchester in the first instance. Then if the situation is continuing, offer more specific information on main corridors, i.e. bus / tram alternatives, where to catch them, links to timetables. This would help move a lot of local travel queries away from besieged staff at stations, giving them more time for the passengers where other public transport is not going to be an option. And if the situation is so bad as it was yesterday, and now it seems today, for passengers likely to be stranded if they don't use a taxi or book a hotel, have a system in place to signpost them to preferred companies, and how to easily claim expenses back from the TOCs.
Longer term, TOCs need to remember that most passengers have a communication device in their pockets / bags. So where people have the app, or have bought online, use this line of communication not just to say "sorry mate yer train's stuffed", but to communicate the above. And even if the situation is not fully clear, and it's unclear what might run and what might not run, ping an alert via the app / email to say "Be aware that there may be issues travelling from Manchester, please check our online resources". I only got to find out about the issue because I always check the status of my trains in advance of me leaving my desk, and usually up to an hour before. But my co-workers were blissfully unaware of the cluster-you-know-what developing, some of whom had long journeys to make that evening. So they would have left the office right at the heart of the peak only to find they might be completely stuffed. But a simple advance warning of a potential issue would have given them more time to plan alternatives.
None of this is particularly difficult or onerous. It just needs the will, and a little bit of finance. But that cost could easily be offset by more passengers being aware of having to make alternative arrangements and not end up claiming a surge-pricing influenced Uber fare.
