Wednesday 7 Dec 2011
PASSENGER UPDATE: RAIL NETWORK PREPARES FOR SEVERE WINDS
- Region & Route:
- Scotland’s Railway: Scotland
Due to the severe weather conditions forecast for across Scotland tomorrow (Thursday, December 8), plans are being put in place to reduce speeds on Scottish rail lines during the expected storm.
The railway will operate a normal service until 10:00am on Thursday before introducing a 50mph speed restriction across most lines in anticipation of gale force winds of up to 90mph later in the day.
The speed restriction is being introduced as high winds can blow debris and trees onto rail lines and damage equipment such as overhead electric power lines.
As trains will be travelling at slower rates, journey times will be extended and service levels on some lines will have to be reduced as a result. Passengers are advised to check their journey before travelling.
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “We will have over 350 engineers out on the network tomorrow working to keep the railway running. However, the extreme nature of the conditions, and the impact they can have on our infrastructure, means that a speed restriction is necessary in the interests safety.”
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office - Scotland
0141 555 4109
mediarelations@networkrail.co.uk
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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
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