Flooding and landslides have caused mass disruption to train services in Scotland and northern England.
Services were cancelled last night on the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line following landslips and severe flooding.
Although service is returning to normal on the West Coast this morning, Network Rail has advised passengers not to travel between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed, with no services running between the stations until further notice.
Passengers had to be evacuated from a Virgin train between Birmingham and Glasgow after a fire on board stopped the service between Lockerbie and Beattock. The train had earlier stopped in Cumbria because of flooding
There is continued disruption to ScotRail’s West Highland Line after a 24-wagon freight train derailed in a landslide at Tulloch yesterday.
A ScotRail spokesman said: “We are doing everything we possibly can to help our customers and have extra staff on hand to help at stations.
“Customers are advised to get up-to-date journey information before travelling.”
One route to remain open was the Settle-Carlisle Line, which was threatened with closure until reprieved by then Transport Minister Michael Portillo in 1989.
Virgin ran a limited service on the line last night (June 28).
Richard Morris, chairman of the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line – the group that campaigned for its retention and which now supports its day to day running – said: “It is rare for both East and West Coast Main Lines to be blocked simultaneously.
“The Settle-Carlisle Line is remarkably robust and we are delighted that on this occasion it can resume the purpose for which it was built – as the third route between England and Scotland.”
Check the National Rail service indicator for further updates.
