Some storm-damaged lines will stay closed today
Network Rail engineers are checking lines in many parts of the country for damage and obstructions after Storm Goretti moved east last night, and some routes are expected to remain closed until tomorrow.
Train services in many parts of Britain are being reduced today, in preparation for the arrival of Storm Goretti. There are amber snow warnings affecting Wales, the Midlands, the South West and Yorkshire & Humber, while an amber wind warning has been issued for Cornwall, where all train services will be suspended from 18.00 this evening. Earlier heavy falls of snow are still causing problems for ScotRail passengers in parts of the Highlands.
Train services have returned to normal after Network Rail’s major programme of engineering work over the Christmas and New Year break. However, more bad weather is likely to cause disruption again from tomorrow, as Storm Goretti arrives. Scotland is still dealing with the effects of heavy snow, and some trains on lines in the Highlands are cancelled today. The Met Office has issued snow warnings affecting much of England and Wales from 18.00 tomorrow until midday on Friday, with rain, snow and high winds forecast.
Snow and ice are continuing to obstruct train services in Scotland, as the cold snap continues. Some lines in the Highlands have disappeared under the snow and Network Rail is using a fleet of snow ploughs to clear the tracks, but more heavy falls are predicted today.
This year is going to be an important one for the railways (writes Sim Harris). More former franchises are to be renationalised soon: the next will be West Midlands Trains on 1 February, to be followed by Govia Thameslink Railway on 31 May.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey is calling for urgent talks over the future structure of Great British Railways, following the Second Reading of the Railways Bill on 9 December. The RMT is particularly concerned about the implications for collective bargaining, because the Bill does not say who the employer or employers will be.
Northumberland County Council is bidding to improve the train service from Newcastle upon Tyne to Ashington, which opened a year ago, by continuing trains beyond Ashington to the line’s original terminus at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.