The vast majority of Scotland’s railway network is expected to operate as normal today following the severe disruption caused by Storm Boelo, although passengers are being urged to check before travelling as some routes may still experience delays and alterations.
Following a challenging weekend of extreme weather, engineers and frontline teams across Scotland’s Railway have been working around the clock to restore services. Recovery teams have removed fallen trees, cleared debris from tracks, repaired damaged overhead line equipment, and responded to flooding and power supply issues across multiple locations.
While significant progress has already been made, work will continued overnight on Sunday to safely reopen the remaining affected sections of the network. Before services can resume, extensive inspections must take place to ensure routes are free from obstruction and that any weather-related damage has been identified and rectified.
Specialist inspection equipment, alongside Network Rail’s helicopter, have been used overnight as teams carry out final route assessments ahead of Monday morning’s start of service.
Routes Where Disruption May Continue
Passengers travelling on the following routes are advised to check journey information before setting off:
- Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh
- Inverness to Thurso/Wick
- Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William/Oban
- Ayr to Stranraer
Safety Remains the Priority
Gary Hopkirk, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said:
“It’s been a really challenging weekend for Scotland’s Railway and particularly for the teams who’ve been out in some very difficult conditions responding to whatever the weather has thrown at us. Our focus throughout has been on keeping people safe and trains moving wherever possible.
“Now the worst of the weather has passed, our attention is on getting the railway back to normal. We’ll be working as quickly as we can, but we won’t compromise on safety. We know disruption is frustrating and we really appreciate the patience people have shown this weekend while our teams do everything they can to get everyone moving again.”
Round-the-Clock Recovery Effort
ScotRail has praised the efforts of railway staff and engineers who have worked throughout the weekend to restore services across the network.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said:
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of Scotland’s Railway’s engineers and staff, the vast majority of routes impacted by Storm Boelo will be open on Monday, with services running from the start of service across much of the country.
“The scale of the operation is significant, with teams working around the clock to clear fallen trees, repair damaged overhead power lines and other railway infrastructure and carry out essential safety inspections.
“While good progress is being made, there are still a small number of routes where work will continue into Monday morning. We're working closely with Network Rail to get these reopened as quickly as possible, but our priority remains the safety of our customers and staff, and trains will only resume when it is safe to do so.
“We're grateful to customers for their continued patience and understanding and would encourage everyone to check their journey on the ScotRail app or website before travelling for the latest information.”
Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and consult National Rail or their train operating company for the latest travel information, as services may continue to change at short notice while final recovery work is completed.
Image credits: Network Rail
