Storm Floris latest: ‘Do not travel’ and ‘danger to life’ warnings as storm hits UK

Here’s what railway operators have said as severe travel disruption is expected across the north of the UK especially in Scotland.

Network Rail

There will be an early end to rail services in parts of Scotland.

Railway lines will be closing in the west and north of the country from noon, including the West Highland Line and all routes north of Perth and in Fife.

The lines closing from noon are:

• Edinburgh – Fife/Perth/Dundee
• Perth – Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness
• Dunblane – Perth
• Inverness – Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalsh
• Helensburgh Upper – Oban, Fort William and Mallaig

All other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times.

Once the storm has passed, engineers will need to inspect the closed lines for any damage, with passengers being advised that services will start later on Tuesday.

LNER

“Do not travel north of Newcastle,” LNER has warned.

Storm Floris will disrupt “various routes” on the network, which will not be serving Newcastle and Inverness.

Trains south of Newcastle “may be subject to delay or short-notice cancellation”.

Alternative travel options will be “extremely limited”.

If you have an LNER ticket to travel today it will be valid for travel at no extra cost up to and including 6 August.

If you choose not to travel, you will be entitled to a full refund.

Avanti West Coast

The operator advises customers “not to travel north of Preston”.

This includes Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh.

“Our Anglo-Scot route is expected to be heavily affected by Storm Floris.”

If you were due to travel on this route today, your existing ticket can be used on 5 August at any time, via the same route, at no extra cost.

Scotrail

“Significantly fewer than normal services will run, some lines will be closed all day, and on some routes the last services will be around lunchtime,” Scotrail said.

Customers holding tickets for travel today can use their tickets to travel on an earlier service or on 5 August.

“Storm Floris is expected to break recorded wind speeds for the month of August across many areas, making this an extremely intense storm for the time of year.”