Storm Amy swept across Scotland over the weekend, leaving a trail of disruption that tested the resilience and coordination of the rail industry like few weather events before it.
From the Highlands to Dumfries and Galloway, the storm battered the network with wind gusts reaching up to 96mph, triggering more than 480 separate incidents. Flooding, fallen trees, damaged overhead lines, and local power outages were reported across key routes, with Aberdeenshire and Perthshire among the hardest hit.
In anticipation of the storm’s severity, lines in the north were proactively closed on Friday evening to safeguard passengers and staff. As conditions worsened, further closures were necessary across Glasgow, Ayrshire, and the southwest.
Despite the scale of the challenge, Network Rail Scotland mobilised swiftly. Around 550 staff were deployed across affected areas, working more than 40,000 hours in difficult and often hazardous conditions to inspect infrastructure, carry out emergency repairs, and restore services.
Ross Moran, Route Director for Network Rail Scotland, praised the response:
“Storm Amy was a significant weather event that created some real challenges. From the first reports of damage on Friday night to the final inspections on Monday, our teams worked tirelessly to get the railway back up and running safely and as quickly as possible.
Everyone played their part including engineers on the ground, control room staff and our partners at ScotRail and other operators. Teamwork across Scotland’s railway was absolutely essential as we responded to the storm’s impacts.
We’re hugely grateful to passengers for their patience and understanding while we worked to restore the network. We know how frustrating disruption can be and we appreciated the public’s support throughout.”
The collaborative effort between Network Rail and ScotRail was instrumental in the recovery, with both organisations working in lockstep to assess damage, clear debris, and ensure safety before reopening lines.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail’s Service Delivery Director, echoed the sentiment:
“After an exceptionally challenging few days, it’s great to see trains running again.
The damage caused by Storm Amy, particularly on routes in the north of the country, has been significant, and it’s taken a massive joint effort with our colleagues at Network Rail to get services moving.
I’d like to thank our customers for their patience while lines were inspected for damage, debris was cleared, and essential repairs were completed to make sure the network was safe to reopen.
This storm has once again shown the resilience of Scotland’s Railway and the dedication of the people who keep it running.”
As the clean-up continues and lessons are learned, Storm Amy stands as a powerful reminder of the importance of preparedness, collaboration, and the unwavering commitment of rail professionals across the country.
Image credits: Network Rail
