Network Rail engineers restore storm-hit routes, disruptions persist

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Network Rail engineers have been tirelessly working non-stop to restore the railway system in regions severely affected by Storm Gerrit.

Inspection teams have been diligently assessing various routes across Scotland, reopening sections of the track deemed safe, including the West Highland line and the Aberdeen – Inverness line.

Travelers are urged to verify their journeys before departure, as disruptions are anticipated to persist on several lines across the country until at least tomorrow (Friday 29 December). Affected routes include:

• Inverness – Wick/Thurso
• Aberdeen – Dundee
• Dundee – Cupar
• Glasgow – Carlisle via Dumfries

The Cupar to Dundee line remains closed due to a landslip triggered by heavy rainfall on Wednesday, although services are operational between Dundee and Perth.

Efforts are underway to clear over 100 tons of debris from the Dumfries to Kilmarnock line, addressing flooding and a landslip near Sanquhar.

Teams are addressing a swift water flow onto the track at Kirkton of Kinellar, near Dyce in Aberdeenshire. They are diverting the water and eliminating a significant amount of silt before train services can resume.

“Our dedicated teams have been actively examining and fixing the railway, with a primary focus on critical tasks such as managing floods and clearing debris to guarantee passenger safety.

We are committed to swiftly and securely reinstating the remaining impacted routes

“Working closely with our partners at Network Rail, our teams have been putting in exhaustive efforts to enable travel wherever possible. Nevertheless, difficult conditions in different regions have led to significant disruptions. Ensuring the safety of our employees and passengers continues to be our highest concern.”

“We apologize to customers inconvenienced by this storm-related disruption to their journeys.

“Most of the network is now operational. Nonetheless, we advise customers to check their journey details before commencing travel and to stay updated via our website, mobile app, or social media channels for real-time information.”

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