Network Rail announces early end to rail services on Monday ahead of Storm Floris

Railway lines in the west and north of Scotland will close from noon tomorrow (August 4).

Storm Floris is expected to bring winds of up to 90mph and heavy rain over a 24-hour period.

An Amber Met Office warning is in place for wind for much of the country with forecast speeds which are unprecedented for this time of year.

Rail services will be withdrawn on several lines, including the West Highland Line, all routes north of Perth and in Fife from noon on Monday.

All other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times, as trains will be limited to a maximum speed of 50mph from 09:00 for safety reasons.

Lines which will close from noon on Monday:

• Edinburgh – Fife/Perth/Dundee

• Perth – Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness

• Dunblane - Perth

• Inverness – Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalsh

• West Highland Line (Helensburgh Upper – Oban, Fort William and Mallaig)

The strong winds could bring down trees and blow other debris onto the tracks.

The unseasonal nature of the strong winds poses a higher risk, according to Network Rail bosses, with trees in full leaf being more susceptible to wind damage.

Heavy rain will also increase the risks to the railway’s infrastructure and can cause landslips and flooding.

Once the storm has passed, engineers will need to inspect the closed lines for any damage, with passengers being advised that services will start later on Tuesday across affected routes.

Network Rail Scotland’s helicopter will assist teams on the ground to complete essential checks across the network as quickly as possible.

Passengers are being urged to check their journey before travelling with National Rail Enquiries or their train operator.

Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland route director, said: “With the severity of Storm Floris becoming clear, our priority is the safety of our passengers and colleagues.

“That is why we’ve taken the decision to close some parts of Scotland’s Railway early on Monday as the worst of the conditions hit the country.

“Our engineers will also need to thoroughly inspect the network for any damage before we reopen the lines and restart train services on Tuesday morning.

“Weather specialists, based in our control room, will monitor conditions closely throughout the storm, and our teams on the ground will be ready to deal with any issues caused by the weather as quickly as possible.

“We appreciate passengers’ patience while we get through this unprecedented summer storm.”

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “The Met Office amber weather warnings for very high winds across the country will impact rail services on Monday.

“We recognise the impact that the withdrawal and alteration of train services will have on customers, but our first priority is always to ensure the safety of staff and passengers – and this is a necessary step to ensure everyone’s safety.

“We will update our website, mobile app, and social media feeds with the latest travel advice, and customers should check their journey before travelling.”

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