ScotRail halts multiple services after torrential rain warning
Some rail services have been suspended after a yellow weather warning was issued for heavy rain in the Highlands and north-east of Scotland.
ScotRail halted direct services between the central belt and Aberdeen and Inverness until Sunday.
Flooding is expected in some parts of the country after forecasters extended the weather warning by 24 hours until noon on Sunday.
The Scottish flood forecast said “significant flooding impacts” were likely in the north-east on Friday and Saturday after torrential downpours.
The Met Office warning covers Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, most of which experienced prolonged downpours that caused disruption for residents last week, including flooding.
ScotRail services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness have been suspended, though trains were expected to run to Dundee from Glasgow, and to Perth from Edinburgh.
A shuttle train service will operate between Inverness and Perth and Aberdeen and Dundee but it will be subject to delay after speed restrictions were imposed as a precaution.
Journeys are expected to take longer than usual and customers were advised to check before travelling.
David Simpson, ScotRail’s service delivery director, said: “Our first priority is always to ensure the safety of our staff and customers … We ask customers to keep an eye on our website, app, or social media feeds for live updates.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said: “River levels are not expected to be as high as experienced during Storm Babet but as the rain will be falling on to already wet ground, flooding from surface water runoff may also cause impacts.
“Caithness and Sutherland, Easter Ross and Great Glen and the south-west of Scotland may also experience some localised flooding due to persistent and heavy rain.”
Network Rail Scotland said: “More extremely heavy rain is on the way. It will not be to the levels from Storm Babet but it will affect the same areas already with saturated ground. It will bring a risk of flooding.”