Rail passengers warned to plan ahead as network braces for weekend weather disruption
Scotland’s Railway is preparing for a weekend of challenging weather, with heavy rain expected on Friday before Storm Boelo brings further wet and windy conditions on Saturday and Sunday.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain across southern and eastern Scotland for today, as Storm Austen brings more severe weather south of the border.
Storm Boelo will then hit Scotland directly over the weekend, bringing strong winds and further rain, with another yellow warning in place for Saturday night and Sunday.
Extreme weather conditions can impact the railway as persistent heavy rain can cause flooding and strong winds can bring down trees and blow debris onto the line.
Teams will be monitoring conditions throughout the weekend and taking action to keep trains moving safely wherever possible.
Today (Friday), that will mean slowing trains down to keep people safe in the areas expected to see the heaviest rain. Speed restrictions are in place on parts of the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line, as well as routes across southern and eastern Scotland.
Some journeys will take longer as a result, but the restrictions mean trains can continue running through areas where the weather is at its worst.
With Storm Boelo following on Saturday and Sunday, preparations are underway for a second spell of difficult conditions. Speed restrictions are likely in areas worst affected.
Network Rail’s specialist weather forecasters are closely monitoring the storm as it approaches and will continue to assess its potential impacts.
Anyone travelling over the weekend is encouraged to plan ahead and check their journey before setting off. With the weather picture still developing, passengers should follow the latest travel advice from their train operator throughout the weekend.
Craig Gorman, head of operational weather strategy at Network Rail Scotland, said: “We can’t control the weather, but we can make sure we’re as ready as possible for whatever it brings.
“A big part of our job is staying one step ahead. We’re constantly looking at how the forecast is developing and what that could mean for different parts of the railway, allowing us to make the right decisions at the right time.
“We know any disruption from these storms will be frustrating, particularly as it’s the weekend, but we’ll do everything we can to keep people moving wherever it’s safe to do so.”
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, added: “Safety is always our top priority, and with weather warnings in place as Storm Austen and Storm Boelo bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Scotland this weekend, there is an increased risk of flooding and disruption on the railway.
“We’ll have staff working around the clock to support Network Rail’s efforts and keep people moving safely wherever possible.
“We’d encourage customers to plan ahead and check the ScotRail app, website, or our social media channels for the latest travel information before setting off.”
For updates from across Scotland’s Railway, follow @NetworkRailScot on X.