UPDATE: Level crossing faults which forced suspension of all rail travel on the Kyle and Far North Lines have been fixed; Network Rail confirmed the news after telecoms engineers investigated the cause of the fault between Inverness and Lochalsh/Caithness
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UPDATE: Rail services are 'returning to normal" after a fault with all level crossings on the Kyle and Far North Lines was fixed this afternoon.
All services were suspended shortly before midday, when a ScotRail spokeswoman announced that all services north and west of Inverness had been affected.
"We have had reports of a fault with all level crossings between Inverness and Wick/Kyle of Lochalsh," said the spokeswoman.
"For safety reasons services will be suspended until this fault has been rectified."
Updating the public shortly after 1pm, a spokesman added that a telecoms engineer was "on-site" and investigating the fault.
They added: "We’re running a reduced service for key workers and essential travel only. If you’re a key worker affected by this disruption, contact us by using the station Help Point or via Twitter for further info."
And at around 1.30pm, Network Rail confirmed that the issue had been fixed, but urged passengers to check ScotRail for the latest updates to services.
ScotRail added that "services are beginning to return to normal".
Passengers should check ScotRail's website to see if their planned journey has been affected by the suspension and subsequent disruption to the network.
For more information go to ScotRail's website or follow ScotRail's Twitter account.
The earlier service suspensions came amid already reduced services as part of wider Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown restrictions, which are preventing all but key workers and essential travellers from using the trains. This has resulted in only two or three trains running in each direction per day. See the ScotRail website for the full reduced timetable.
