Rail network advises against travel and closes some routes ahead of Storm Éowyn

Network Rail and rail operators serving the North of England are advising passengers avoid travel on Friday 24 January due to the expected disruption from gale-force winds from Storm Éowyn.

The storm, the fifth named storm of the season, is expected to bring some of the strongest winds in a decade, and is expected to severely impact the rail network, particularly in Northern England and Scotland where winds will be strongest. The Met Office has issued an Amber weather warning for much of the North, with gusts forecast in excess of 80 miles per hour. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, a rare Red weather warning has been issued, indicating serious risk to life due to the high winds expected.

In anticipation of the severe weather conditions, the rail industry has taken the difficult decision to close some lines. This includes north of Preston on the West Coast Main Line and north of Newcastle on the East Coast Main Line, with both of these closures impacting on Anglo-Scots services.

Other lines across Northern England, Scotland and Northern Wales may also be closed at short notice due to the impacts of the storm, so passengers are urged to keep up to date with the latest travel information and alternative travel options. 

Lisa Angus, Industry Weather Response Director and Network Rail, said:

“The decision to close parts of the railway is never one that we take lightly, but the safety of passengers and our staff is our top priority. We have been preparing for the severe impacts of Storm Éowyn all week and will have scores of workers ready to deal with any incidents which occur, such as flash flooding or fallen trees and other items blocking the tracks.

“We ask residents living by the railway to tie down loose garden items, like trampolines or gazebos, which pose a risk of blowing onto the railway and could cause further unnecessary delays for passengers and freight services.”

Customers who were planning to travel on the parts of the railway that will be closed on Friday are advised to complete their journeys on Thursday 23 January instead where possible, or delay them. Train operators will be able to advise on alternative ticket acceptance.

With ‘Do Not Travel’ advice issued on its services between Manchester and Glasgow/Edinburgh, Transpennine Express has already announced Customers with tickets across the affected routes can either defer their journey or use tickets for travel between Thursday 23 January to Monday 27 January inclusive, or request a full refund.

Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director at Transpennine Express, said,

“Our top priority is the safety of our customers and colleagues. We will do everything possible to keep people moving under difficult conditions, however due to the weather warnings in place for this Friday, we are having to issue advice not to travel on two of our routes.

“We urge anyone travelling on the affected routes to reconsider their plans and to follow the guidance provided.”