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Sunday 7 Feb 2016

Check before you travel as Storm Imogen hits the South West

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| National

| Wales & Western

Network Rail and Great Western Railway are warning passengers to check before they travel before heading for the station on Monday as Storm Imogen sweeps into the South West of England.

The storm is expected to hit on Monday morning and with the ground already sodden following a weekend of rain the danger of both flooding and trees on lines is high.

Due to the risk of high winds, 50mph speed restrictions will be imposed on the following routes: 

Taunton to Penzance between 0700-1600.

Bristol area (boundaries are Yate, Patchway, Chipping Sodbury, Bridgwater and Bath Spa) between 1100-1600.

West of Cardiff between 0500-1700.

Services will be subject to delays in the affected areas and short term alterations to services may also apply.

Passengers in Devon and Cornwall are urged to check  before travelling. Coaches will be on standby to cover services at Penzance, Truro, Plymouth, Exeter St Davids and Taunton stations.

Mutual ticket acceptance has been agreed with CrossCountry between Bristol Temple Meads and Penzance from start of service tomorrow until speed restrictions are lifted and service recovery concludes. Mutual ticket acceptance has also been agreed with Arriva Trains Wales between Cardiff and Swansea.

Mark Langman, Network Rail’s managing director for the Western Route said: “It has been an incredibly challenging weekend for everyone working on the Western route with torrential rain followed by gale force winds.

“We have been working really hard to make sure that there is a service running on Monday and passengers will be able to get around but we would ask that people bear with us. There will be late some trains running later than scheduled as we impose speed restrictions for safety reasons – if in any doubt please check before you travel.

A Great Western Railway spokesman added: "The weather conditions over the weekend have been challenging, and they look likely to continue into the start week. Imposing speed restrictions helps Network Rail keep routes open that would otherwise have to close entirely, but it does mean some journeys through Devon and Cornwall, and Bristol may take longer than normal."

Follow Network Rail Western Route on Twitter @networkrailwest or GWR on @GWRUK and @GWRhelp Like us on  facebook.com/GWRUK.