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Friday 14 Feb 2020

Storm Dennis: Passengers urged to check before travelling this weekend

Region & Route:

National

Network Rail and train operators are advising passengers to check before they travel again this weekend, with Storm Dennis set to bring more high winds and further rainfall on Saturday and Sunday.

It follows Storm Ciara last weekend, which saw reduced services and speed restrictions in place across parts of the rail network to ensure passengers were moved as safely and reliably as possible. Dennis is likely to bring similar disruption to passengers’ journeys this weekend, with river levels high and many trackside trees weakened.

Nick King, network services director at Network Rail, said: “As we saw last week, stormy weather brings high winds that can lead to trees and other debris falling on to the railway, and floods that prevent us from running trains on parts of the network. That is why we are again asking passengers to check their journeys before they travel this weekend, either with their train operator directly or through National Rail Enquiries.

“Our teams of engineers will again be out working at all hours and in all weathers to remove fallen trees and debris from the railway, repair damaged infrastructure and work to reopen lines affected by flooding.”

Robert Nisbet, director of nations and regions at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “Train companies and Network Rail are working together to make all necessary preparations to ensure that people are able to travel safely this weekend. Storm Dennis may affect services across the country and we encourage passengers to check before they travel.”

Lineside neighbours are again asked to help keep the railway free of any unexpected debris by tying down or clearing away garden furniture, such as trampolines.