ScotRail train services across Scotland cancelled into Saturday as Network Rail prepares for Storm Eowyn clear-up
Rail travellers across Scotland will have to wait until at least noon tomorrow (Saturday) for a resumption of services.
That was the warning from ScotRail ahead of a huge round of safety checks and track clearance work by Network Rail in the wake of Storm Éowyn.
Far North, Highland Mainline and Inverness-Aberdeen services were at a standstill all day today as a precautionary measure.
In an advisory notice to customers, ScotRail confirmed the extent of the mop-up operation in store through the night.
A Met Office yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been added for part of Saturday.
It said: “The impact of Storm Éowyn is being felt across Scotland’s Railway, with extremely high winds causing significant damage to infrastructure throughout the country.
“We won't know the full extent of the damage until after the storm passes and our Network Rail colleagues can get onto the network and carry out a fully assessment.
“This will obviously take quite a bit of time.
“Our colleagues at Network Rail Scotland will be working flat out through the night to remove fallen trees and other debris from the tracks.
“There has also been extensive damage to overhead lines which will need to be repaired before trains can safely return to service.
“Unfortunately, this means that ScotRail services will be heavily impacted tomorrow (Saturday), and customers should not expect any trains to operate before 12.00, at the earliest.
“The safety of our staff and our customers is our absolute priority, and we will only run trains when it is safe to do so.
“We will update the ScotRail website, app, and our social media channels when we have more information.”
Caledonian Sleeper and LNER services have also been cancelled as a result of Storm Éowyn.