Lines in Scotland and Wales remain closed after storms

The main line between

Edinburgh and Glasgow is likely to remain shut for ‘several weeks’, according to a Network Rail spokesman.

Scotland’s busiest rail link was severed on August 12, following a 30-metre breach of the Union Canal near Polmont after torrential rain and thunderstorms on August 12 ( RAIL 912).

Track, ballast and overhead line equipment (OLE) was washed away, and uprooted trees were strewn across a 300metre section of line, causing all services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley via Falkirk High to be suspended.

The canal breach has now been plugged and repairs to the railway are under way, although at the time this issue of RAIL went to press Network Rail was not yet in a position to confirm a reopening date.

A spokesman told RAIL: “Works are progressing well and we’re making inroads on filling the washout beneath the track and embankment.

“Once that’s done there is obviously still a tremendous amount of work to do relaying the track and reinstalling the OLE stanchions.

“I can only say that it will be several weeks at this stage in terms of a timescale, but hopefully we’ll be in a position to confirm dates soon.”

Meanwhile, the Heart of Wales Line also remains shut as a result of the damage caused by heavy rainfall on August 12-13.

Ballast was washed away, and track buried beneath debris on a 350-metre stretch of the route near Knighton (Powys) with buses currently replacing trains between Shrewsbury and Llanelli.

No date has yet been given for reopening the line and Network Rail was yet to respond to RAIL’s request for further information as this issue went to press.