Janice R. Andrews
Due to heavy flooding, a major railway line between London and Scotland is stopped, causing considerable disruptions for thousands of train passengers. After intense rain, a river burst its banks, blocking the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Lockerbie.
According to National Rail Enquiries, Avanti West Coast and Caledonian Sleeper services between Euston and Scotland are being impacted by the water. There will likely be significant interruptions all day Thursday.
Passengers are urged not to attempt traveling with Avanti West Coast between Preston and Scotland. We sincerely apologize if this interferes with your plans for today. The business advises customers to postpone their trip, seek a refund, or travel with other operators like LNER on the East Coast Main Line.
TransPennine Express’s commercial director, Darren Higgins, said: “Train services are significantly disrupted due to flooding on the railway line north of Carlisle.” Our top focus is the safety of our clients and coworkers, so we are asking clients to avoid traveling from Manchester, Liverpool, or Preston to Carlisle, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.”
Affected services consist of:
- West Coast trains in the Avanti class run between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh from London Euston.
- Aberdeen and Inverness are served by Caledonian Sleeper trains from London Euston.
- ScotRail services run from Glasgow Central to Carlisle.
- Manchester Airport to Edinburgh and Manchester Piccadilly to Glasgow Central are served by TransPennine Express trains.
Wales, Scotland, and northern England are expected to have more intense rain, and certain locations have a “danger to life” warning in effect. This comes after a person lost their life in a mudslide on Wednesday. With additional rain predicted for Thursday, the Met Office has issued yellow and amber warnings for rain in the northern regions.
The threats of severe weather have not affected London. It’s predicted that Thursday will be dry and occasionally bright in the capital, in contrast to Wednesday’s rainy weather that caused problems for commuters and guests at the Chelsea Flower Show. It is predicted that the current pleasant weather will last through Friday and Saturday before rain returns on Sunday.
On the other hand, following Wednesday’s nearly month-long downpour in some locations, the north is preparing for more intense rain. A mudslide in the community of Carlton-in-Cleveland, close to the North York Moors, resulted in a fatality, according to North Yorkshire Police.
With 65.6mm of rain in the previous day, Carlisle in Cumbria had the most rainfall. According to Simon Partridge of the Met Office, the region is predicted to see rainy weather through Thursday night.
Up to Thursday at noon, an amber rain warning is still in place for portions of North Wales and North West England, which includes Manchester and Liverpool. The Met Office issues a warning for deep or swiftly running floodwater that might be deadly, block off communities by flooded roads, cause power outages, and interfere with public transportation.
In anticipation of swift flooding brought on by rising water levels, the Environment Agency has issued a serious flood warning for the rivers Roe and Ive from Highbridge to Stockdalewath, south of Carlisle. There are now twenty-two flood warnings in England, plus one in Scotland.
“Although it may not look too bad when you leave home, it could turn much heavier once you’re out and about,” Mr. Partridge warned the public to remain aware and cautious. Planning ahead is essential, and if there’s no need to go, the best course of action is to try to avoid it. Pay attention to the Environment Agency’s local warnings, which are equally as vital as ours.
