Flooding threatens mass rail disruption

● Key route between Scotland’s biggest cities hit by floods from damaged canal

Flood damage to the main rail line between Edinburgh and Glasgow will take up to two months to repair, Network Rail has revealed.

The line suffered extensive damage near Polmont caused by flooding from the Union Canal. Engineers said a 300m section of the track was engulfed by “unprecedented” rainfall when thousands of gallons of water cascaded from the damaged canal last Wednesday.

Parts of the line were washed away along with overhead masts, embankments were undermined and dozens of uprooted trees were left strewn across the tracks.

Network rail said despite working round the clock, early indications were that repairs would take two months.

The main rail line between Edinburgh and Glasgow could be closed for two months because of flood damage, Network Rail has revealed.

Engineers have been working round the clock to repair extensive damage near Polmont caused by flooding from the Union Canal.

A 300m section of the track was engulfed by “unprecedented” rainfall which saw thousands of gallons of water cascading from the damaged canal last Wednesday.

Part of it were washed away along with overhead electrification masts, and embankments undermined.

Dozens of uprooted trees were left strewn across the tracks during flooding which continued for two days. Ballast supporting more than 1km of the track will have to be replaced.

Trains normally operate on the line between Scotland’s biggest cities via Falkirk High every 15 minutes in each direction.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “So extensive was the flood damage, initial assessments are indicating that it could take two months to reinstate the line, though engineers will continue to investigate the extent of the damage before confirming a final estimate for restoring service.”

The damage was caused by a 30-metre section of the Union canal at Muiravonside being breached, with water cascading down a slope on to the line

Network Rail route delivery director Kevin Mcclelland said:“weareworkingwithour asset engineers and specialist contractors to assess the scale and extent of the damage and what we will need to do to safely reinstate the railway.

“It is remarkable to see the destructive power of the flowing water.

“The extent of the flooding and the scale of the damage is something I have never witnessed before on the railway.

“We are grateful to our colleagues at Scottish Canals for their prompt response in dealing with this unprecedented incident.

“We are working as quickly as possible to complete these repairs and to get passengers back onto the railway.”

Passengers can still travel between Edinburgh and Glasgow on a secondary line via Bathgate and Airdrie.

The storms caused extensive damage to the network, leading to the deaths of three men when an Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street train crashed into a landslide across the tracks near Stonehaven.

Fire crew members and Fire Brigades Union (FBU) officials laid three bouquets of flowers at Aberdeen railway station on yesterday as a mark of respect to the victims – train driver Brett Mccullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62.

Denise Christie, FBU Scotland regional secretary, said: “What happened at Stonehaven was heartbreaking and we send our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those lost.

“This was a tragic incident that never should have happened.”

A one-minute silence is to take place at 9.43am today as a mark of respect to those who died.