Posted 23rd October 2026

Storm disrupts trains in many parts of Britain

Trains have been cancelled on a number of routes after Storm Austen arrived overnight.

Great Western Railway, Northern, Greater Thameslink Railway, CrossCountry, South Western Railway, Transport for Wales and ScotRail are all reporting problems.

GWR is running no trains to Okehampton, Newquay, Looe or Gunnislake, and services have been halved on the Falmouth Docks branch. GWR is also warning that trains between Taunton and Penzance may be cancelled or delayed.

Northern says trains between Hull and Halifax will be cut short to Bradford Interchange, some services will be changed between Leeds, Harrogate and York, and also between Leeds and Chester. There will also be changes between York and Blackpool North, Ashington and Newcastle, and Blackburn and Headbolt Lane.

CrossCountry is not running between Plymouth and Penzance, and says there may be further changes west of Bristol.

In Wales, services in West Wales will run only as far as Carmarthen until Sunday, there are no trains on the Heart of Wales line, while services are reduced on the Cambrian line and along the North Wales coast.

Greater Thameslink Railway has reported that fallen trees have blocked the railway at Moulsecoomb, Uckfield, Balcombe and Swanwick.

South Western Railway is warning of disruption between Weymouth and Bournemouth until 18.00. A tree that was blocking the railway between Branksome and Bournemouth has been removed, but the line is still blocked while track repairs are carried out. Trains between Weymouth and Bournemouth may be delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised. Stopping services between Bournemouth and Winchester may be delayed, altered or cancelled. There are no trains on the Lymington Pier branch.

ScotRail is imposing speed restrictions between Dumfries and Sanquhar, Curriehill and Slateford, and between Laurencekirk and Stonehaven. There are no trains between Montrose and Aberdeen.

The outlook is uncertain. Although lines are being cleared as soon as possible, Storm Boelo is set to follow within the next 24 hours, and more disruption is likely over the weekend.

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