Scottish Ministers have thanked workers for getting as much of the transport network as possible up and running again with the worst of Storm Éowyn having now passed.
This follows a rare red warning for wind, and a series of severe weather warnings – including several amber/yellow alerts for wind, snow, and ice across the country. A yellow warning for wind remains in effect across the north of Scotland until 1500 today.
The latest summary across the network is as follows:
- Some ScotRail rail services will return to normal by lunchtime today (Saturday 25/1) , with others following later in the afternoon
- Some rail routes may be subject to line speed restrictions on re-opening, so be prepared for delays.
- Many local roads remain flooded or closed, please check with local authorities for the latest information. Bus services could be impacted or diverted, so check with your operator.
- While most of the trunk road network is now open thanks to the efforts of Operating Companies and emergency services, there are some key strategic routes which remain closed whilst the operating companies deal with the clear up from the storm.
- On ferries, vessels and ports are being inspected for damage and services are resuming. Passengers should check for any restrictions on local access roads before setting off.
- Similarly, please ensure to check the status of your flight with airlines before travelling.
A yellow warning for wind was in effect until Sunday 26 January at 1500 covering a wide area from Ayrshire, Arran and across to Islay, which will continue to present challenges for HGVs, and which could disrupt ferry services.
All this information is subject to change given the scale of impact and potential for further incidents – so please continue to check with your transport operator or get the latest information trunk roads from Traffic Scotland before making your journey.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop said:
“Communities across Scotland have endured extremely challenging weather conditions in recent days. With the Police Scotland ‘Do Not Travel’ advice now ended, it is only natural that people will want to get out and about again.
“However, with some yellow weather warnings still in place and the clear-up operation ongoing, I am asking people to remain vigilant for disruption. Teams across the network will continue working tirelessly as we move throughout the weekend towards the Monday commute.
“On behalf of the Scottish Government, I would like to express our thanks for their incredible continued efforts. We stand ready to assist local authorities where we can and would urge the public to remain cautious, plan ahead, and check before travelling.”
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