DEVASTATION AS

SALTCOATS CASTLE DOUGLAS CASTLE DOUGLAS LEEDS CUMBRIA

customers whose services are cancelled or delayed – but safety has to be our priority.

“We’re almost back to a normal timetabled service. Anyone delayed by 30 minutes is entitled to compensation under our Delay Repay scheme and should keep hold of their tickets to claim.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: “About 4.30am, one of our engineering services struck a tree branch about 10ft long and 10ins thick. That disabled the engineering train and we had to get another train to recover it.

“Then our tree-cutting guys had to go in and make the area safe. That lasted until about 9am.

“The way the branch struck it, the train wasn’t able to move off. We had to get another locomotive to haul it clear.”

The storm caused other delays, cancellations, and disruption across the ScotRail network.

Due to high winds and tides, services between Kilwinning, Ardrossan and Largs on the Ayrshire coastal route were replaced by buses on Monday.

In Bellshill, Lanarkshire, a fallen tree hit overhead lines, affecting services from Glasgow Central to Lanark and to Edinburgh via Shotts.

And in Neilston, south-west of Glasgow, a branch landed on top of a train, stopping it getting power from the overhead lines.

On Glasgow’s southside, emergency crews rushed to the

OOPS Scout hall roof landed on church next door

ANGRY SEA Waves crash against the harbour wall

TIMBER Work goes on to clear a tree on the A75

TRICKY A pilot battles crosswinds to land safely

BLOWN OVER An HGV lies toppled beside the M6

KILLED Fintan Goss, Michael Pyke and Clare O’Neill all died in Ireland