Those using rail to travel tomorrow, (Thursday, November 2), are being urged to plan ahead as Storm Ciaran is set to bring strong wind and rainfall.  

Passengers planning on travelling to and from London King’s Cross on the East Coast Main Line should allow extra time for their journeys and check before travelling as services may be disrupted by the weather. 

The adverse weather conditions brought by the storm could affect journeys until the weekend. 

 

Extra colleagues will be on hand across the network to help deal with any weather-related incidents more quickly, and engineers will be monitoring known flooding hotspots to try and alleviate the risk of the heavy rain creating floods on the line. 

No speed restrictions are currently in place ahead of the adverse weather, but Network Rail teams will continue to monitor the weather in real-time. 

 

Strong winds can blow debris onto the railway line, including trees, which can block the track and cause delays to trains.  

Overhead power lines can also be affected, severing the power supply to trains. High winds can also make repairing faults more difficult, meaning that repairs can take longer to complete. 

Network Rail is urging those who live near the railway to take steps to prevent damage to railway equipment by tying down any objects that could get onto the tracks. 

Route director for Network Rail’s East Coast route, Paul Rutter, said: “Storm Ciarán is set to bring high winds and heavy rainfall across the East Coast route from this evening. The adverse weather could bring disruption to the rail network with flooding and debris falling onto the tracks. 

“We have extra colleagues on standby to respond to incidents more quickly should they occur, and our teams will be working hard to keep passengers safely on the move. 

“We’re urging all passengers to check their journey before they travel via National Rail Enquiries or their train operator and thank passengers for their patience and understanding ahead of this potential disruption.” 

To find out more about how Network Rail keeps trains running during extreme weather, visit: What does stormy weather do to the railway - Network Rail