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Wednesday 21 Oct 2026

Storm Austen: Check before you travel as strong winds impact rail services in Devon and Cornwall on Friday

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Great Western

| Wales & Western

Customers are being asked to check before they travel in Devon and Cornwall on Friday as Storm Austen brings high winds to the South West.

Network Rail and Great Western Railway are amending services after the Met Office issued an amber weather warning – its second highest – for strong winds and gusts, which could exceed 80mph in coastal areas.

Strong winds increase the risk of trees and other debris falling on to the railway. To keep trains running safely, lower speed limits will be introduced on routes in Devon and Cornwall between the start of service and 1300.

Speed restrictions mean that there will be fewer trains running than normal. Those trains that do run are expected to be busier and some journeys could take longer than usual.

Long-distance services will run between London Paddington and Plymouth only, with local services providing a shuttle between Penzance and Plymouth.

Tomorrow (Thursday) night’s Sleeper service from London Paddington will terminate at Plymouth.

Other services in the region are likely to change as we seek to minimise the impact of the storm and some early-morning services will be cancelled to allow us to assess the impact of any damage in full daylight.

Full details of the amended timetable will be published at GWR.com/check from tomorrow. GWR and Network Rail will continue to update customers throughout Friday as conditions change.

GWR and Network Rail Western performance director, Daryn McCombe, said: “We’re grateful for everyone’s patience as our teams work hard to keep people moving safely. We’ll be doing everything we can to keep tracks clear, with chainsaw teams and specialist colleagues deployed to remove any debris as quickly as we can.

“While we will operate as many trains as possible, these measures are about making sure we can keep services running as safely as possible during the storm. We’d ask anyone planning to travel in the South West on Friday, especially in the morning, to check the latest travel advice before setting out.”

If your train is cancelled, you will be able to travel on two trains immediately before or after your scheduled service.

Customers who no longer wish to travel can claim a full refund at GWR.com/help-and-support/refunds.

CrossCountry has cancelled services between Penzance and Plymouth tomorrow and Friday.

For the most up-to-date journey information, please visit GWR.com/check.