Delays and cancellations on ScotRail services as Storm Hector hits

STORM Hector has caused travel misery for many commuters this morning on Scotland’s rail network.

ScotRail say services in Strathclyde have been subject to ‘severe disruption’ due to damage to overhead wires and lines being blocked by fallen trees.

The line running through Glasgow Central low level has been closed for the time being due to overhead line damage at Rutherglen.

And video footage shared online by Network Rail showed the blustery scene at Saltcoats, where the track runs close to the battered shoreline.

The strong winds have caused water to come over the sea-wall, hitting and damaging overhead wires.

Its not much fun #doonthewatter today.

High tides & 60mph gusts of wind are causing water to come over sea-wall at #Saltcoats & hitting overhead electrification wires

Team is on site assessing damage but they won’t get to fix until safe to do go at height to do so #StormHector pic.twitter.com/YmIPp1hj7m

— NetworkRail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) June 14, 2018

Several lines have been blocked by debris, with fallen trees causing most of the problems.

Areas affected include Stirling, Partick, Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire.

Teams with chainsaws have been sent out to try to deal with some of the issues.

Overhead line engineers and track staff have also been attending sites to assess the damage, but repairs can only begin once it’s safe to do so and the wind has dropped.

If you are still to travel this morning or later today, the advice is to check ScotRail’s journey planner before heading out.

Around 110 services have been subject to disruption so far this morning.

Thanks to one of our customers, Tracey, for reporting a tree on the line at #Kirkwood. Our Integrated Control room are aware and have staff responding to this now. ^CT pic.twitter.com/mvCUMfjnN0

— ScotRail (@ScotRail) June 14, 2018

Many roads have also been blocked by debris, and ferry services are subject to delay of cancellation.

Great Western Road in Glasgow was closed for a time due to a fallen tree while the Erskine Bridge and Clyde Expressway were also affected.

Pollokshaws Road in Glasgow was reduced to one lane due to a dangerous building in the strong winds.

https://twitter.com/ViolentCoco/status/1007164335117029378

The Queensferry Crossing is currently open to all vehicles except double-decker buses, and the Clackmannashire Bridge is now open to all vehicles.

The Forth Road Bridge was closed to double-decker buses and only cars are being allowed to cross the Tay Bridge.

FRB closes to high sided vehicles in winds over 50mph – this has happened 15 times since QC opened

QC will only close to HSVs in winds over 70mph thanks to its wind shielding – but if forecast is correct this could happen for first time today.https://t.co/GYypboobww

— The Forth Bridges (@TheForthBridges) June 14, 2018

The Met Office yellow weather warning, predicting of winds up to 70mph in some parts, is in place across the country until this afternoon.

The storm, bringing wet as well as windy weather, will move across Scotland and the north of England throughout the morning, and the yellow warning remains in place until 3pm.

Meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “Scotland and northern England will see that swathe of strong winds move eastwards through the day.

“The wettest weather will be out of the way but there will be some blustery showers following and with the yellow warning in force disruption is possible.

“Further spells of rain will push their way into Scotland through the night before clearer skies open out by the start of Friday.”