SCOTRAIL: Highland Main Line services may still be affected tomorrow when train travel resumes
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ScotRail hopes its services will run as normal on Monday but has warned customers that trains on the Highland Main Line are at the highest risk of more disruption due to floodwaters.
That is because Network Rail Scotland safety teams must wait until flood waters subside to inspect bridges and tracks in some places and the worst conditions are in the Highlands and Perthshire.
Consequently, the rail operator is urging passengers who plan to travel on Monday between Perth and Inverness or Perth and Stirling to check the service status before leaving home tomorrow.
Another issue is that Saturday’s extreme weather resulted in many trains and staff being left out of place because of emergency cancellations and speed restrictions so some may not be in the right location to operate tomorrow.
Scotrail said: “While the operator is optimistic about restoring normal services on Monday, Network Rail safety teams must wait until flood waters subside to inspect bridges.
“The greatest risk to a normal restart on Monday is on the Highland Main Line and the Perthshire areas where flood waters remain high, so passengers whose Monday journey runs between Perth and Inverness or Perth and Stirling are urged to check before leaving home tomorrow.
“Repair works and safety inspections are underway across Scotland after some areas saw up to a month’s worth of rain in a 24-hour period resulting in heavy flooding across much of the rail network.
“Flooding remains an ongoing issue across large areas of Scotland, particularly in the north, with water levels continuing to rise on the Spey and elsewhere. In addition to the ongoing threat of flooding, Saturday’s extreme weather resulted in many trains and staff being left out of place because of emergency cancellations and speed restrictions.”
Services on the following routes will remain completely closed on Sunday, passengers are advised not to travel because there are no rail replacement services available but normal service is scheduled to resume on Monday morning:
- All services between Edinburgh and Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness.
- All services between Glasgow and Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness.
- All services between Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness.
- West Highland Line between Glasgow and Oban/Fort William.
