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Rail lines in western and northern Scotland will close as Storm Boelo approaches on Saturday.
Rail lines across western and northern Scotland will close as Storm Boelo approaches on Saturday, with winds of up to 80mph predicted.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for much of Scotland from Saturday evening to Sunday as the storm hits, just a day after Storm Austen brought heavy rain to many areas on Friday.
A Met Office yellow warning of strong winds over the weekend has been raised to amber for the whole of mainland Scotland and the islands off the west coast.
A yellow warning starts at midday on Saturday, but at 9pm the amber alert comes into effect, until 9pm on Sunday, with only Orkney remaining under the yellow warning.
It warns of potential injury and death from flying debris, in addition to a possibility of damage to buildings, power cuts and travel disruption.
Network Rail Scotland has announced that services south and west of Kilwinning in North Ayrshire will stop from 9pm on Saturday, while further north the Oban and Mallaig lines will close from around 10pm.
On Sunday, the line between Kyle of Lochalsh and Achnashellach in the Highlands will be closed from the start of service, along with the railway between Wick and Helmsdale.
Trains will also operate at reduced speeds across extensive parts of Scotland as the storm moves through, with speed restrictions starting late on Saturday evening and continuing into the next day. Craig Gorman, head of operational weather strategy at Network Rail Scotland, said: “We know that line closures and train slowdowns will have a significant impact on people’s plans this weekend, and these are not decisions we take lightly.
“But when we are faced with weather of this scale, we must put safety first and make sensible calls before conditions deteriorate.
“A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes to understand how the weather can affect different parts of the railway.
“We will keep a good eye on conditions as Storm Boelo moves across Scotland and adapt our response where we need to, while doing everything we can to get people moving.”
Speed restrictions will remain in place until the wind subsides, and the lines will remain closed until they have been thoroughly inspected and declared safe for use.
ScotRail has urged passengers to check their journey before departure and consider alternative arrangements where possible.
The operator also confirmed that passengers holding tickets for journeys on 24 October or 25 October will be able to travel on any service on Saturday, or use their ticket when routes reopen after the storm, including on 26 October.
Scottish Ministers have activated the Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGORR) in preparation for Storm Boelo.
Social Justice and Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville chaired a SGORR meeting on Friday and said it would continue to “closely monitor the situation over the weekend and provide regular updates to the public.”
The City of Edinburgh Council has announced that it will close Princes Street Gardens, Lauriston Castle Grounds, and Saughton Winter Gardens on Saturday evening due to the predicted severe weather, with plans to reopen on Monday when conditions are deemed safe.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has urged members of the public to “remain vigilant” and avoid taking unnecessary risks by going to coastal areas.
RNLI regional water safety manager, Michael Avril said: “Storm Austen and Storm Boelo are set to bring potentially dangerous conditions so we ask the public to remain vigilant and not take unnecessary risks by traveling to coastal locations.
“If you are near the coast or a body of water, we urge you to stay a safe distance from the water as the conditions can knock you off your feet or wash you out to sea.
“If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to swim to live: Lie back in the water with your head so far back that your ears are wet, extend your arms and legs and try to relax as much as possible until you get control of your breathing before calling for help or swimming to safety.
“If you see someone else in danger – don’t go into the water yourself, because you can also get into serious trouble.
“Instead, remember to phone, swim, throw – phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard; tell the struggling person to swim; throw them something nice, like a life ring.”
The Met Office said: “Very strong westerly winds associated with Storm Boelo are expected, with fairly widespread gusts of 60 to 70mph and gusts of up to 80mph in exposed coastal areas.
“The strongest winds will initially affect western Scotland and the far north of Northern Ireland on Saturday evening and then spread eastwards overnight and through Sunday.”
Transport Scotland’s Resilience Room and Multi Agency Response Team will keep a close eye on conditions and co-ordinate responses across the transport network during the warning period.
Superintendent Andy Barclay, deputy head of road policing for Police Scotland, said: “The amber warning for the wind means there is a high risk of disruption to the road network and travel conditions could be dangerous.
“Our advice is to plan ahead and consider whether your trip is really necessary or whether it can be delayed until conditions improve.
“Stopping distances can be at least double on wet roads compared to dry conditions, and spray can reduce driver visibility.
“HGV and bus drivers should drive with extreme caution and be aware that you will be asked by the police to park in an appropriate location.
“If you must travel, please drive to the conditions and allow extra time for your journey.”
Scotland’s Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn said: “The Met Office has upgraded its warning for Storm Boelo, with gusty winds and heavy rain expected to affect most of Scotland this weekend.
“While the most severe conditions are expected in the amber warning area in the west of Scotland, a yellow warning remains in force across the country and travelers everywhere should be prepared for potential disruption.”
A Met Office yellow warning for rain remains active across much of southern and eastern Scotland on Friday as Storm Austen continues to batter the nation.
The Met Office has warned that there is a “small chance” that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to buildings.
Travelers were asked to check the latest availability of trains and buses, while motorists were warned that spray and flooding could pose a hazard on the roads and lead to closures.
The Scottish Environment Agency currently has 10 flood alerts in place on Friday.
ScotRail warned that services to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow Central to Edinburgh and Glasgow Central to Carlisle could face speed restrictions or cancellations as a result of the severe weather.
Network Rail Scotland confirmed that speed restrictions will be implemented on sections of the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line, as well as routes across southern and eastern Scotland, at various points throughout the day.
