Extreme weather set to cause disruption and delays for rail travellers between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh
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Passengers on the Inverness – Kyle of Lochalsh train line can expect longer journey times from this evening as high winds and heavy rain batter a swathe of Scotland.
With the Met Office issuing a yellow warning for the west side of the country, Network Rail Scotland is ready to impose speed restrictions on drivers.
The Kyle line is set to be affected along with the West Highland Line, the West Coast Main Line and one of the Kilmarnock to Carlisle routes.
Network Rail will set the restrictions later this evening to keep passengers and staff safe.
ScotRail will operate an emergency timetable in both directions between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh and between Glasgow Queen Street and Oban, Fort William and Mallaig, and Glasgow Central and Carlisle via Dumfries.
The revised timetables will take account of the extended journey times expected as trains run at a reduced speed.
Caledonian Sleeper journey times will also be extended on services to and from Fort William.
Scotland’s railway’s specialist weather forecasters predict that 20 to 30mm of rain will fall across most of Scotland between tonight and Wednesday, but most of the West Highland Line will see up to 55mm of rain.
Winds of up to 55 mph are expected across the southern half of Scotland and additional frontline teams will be deployed across the railway to respond quickly if needed.
Network Rail warned that high winds could blow trees and debris onto the tracks and cause damage to overhead power lines, with heavy rain obviously risking flooding.
Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland’s route director, said: “With extreme rainfall and strong winds arriving later today, there will be some disruption on Scotland’s railway.
“For safety reasons, we need to impose speed restrictions on areas of the West Highland Line, Kyle of Lochalsh Line, West Coast Main Line and Kilmarnock - Carlisle.
“We have additional frontline teams working to check flood pumps and remove any debris on or near the railway.
“Our control room team will also be monitoring the weather in real-time and if conditions improve, we’ll remove the speed restrictions sooner.”
Passengers are being urged to check their journeys before travelling.
More information on any changes to services can be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with individual train operators.
