Storm Eunice: rail firms urge people to avoid travel on Friday
Rail firms are warning passengers to avoid travel on Friday, when the worst storm in three decades is forecast to hit the UK.
Journeys across Britain will be affected by speed restrictions and delays on Friday, the rail industry said, as Storm Eunice is expected to cause major disruption.
Winds of up to 90mph are forecast for parts of the UK, according to red and amber weather warnings issued by the Met Office.
Long-distance train operators cancelled many services in advance and said passengers should use tickets booked for Friday to travel on Thursday or Saturday instead.
Network Rail will be imposing speed restrictions of 50mph across most of the railway for safety reasons, to minimise the risk from fallen trees or debris blown on to the track.
Engineers will be out in force for the second time in three days to combat damage from the extreme weather.
Train services in Scotland, which bore the worst impact of Storm Dudley on Wednesday, had largely resumed by 10am on Thursday after a cleanup operation to repair overhead lines and remove fallen trees.
Network Rail said additional engineers would be deployed ready to tackle problems as they arise, and to check all affected lines for damage before reintroducing services as quickly as possible.
Transport for Wales told passengers to expect disruption and to avoid travel, with Eunice expected to be “the largest and most impactful storm affecting Wales for many years”. The mainline to Cardiff will be closed west of Bristol on Friday.
Great Western Railway, which operates the south Wales mainline and across the south-west regions, is expected to be most affected by Eunice. The firm said customers could use tickets up to and including Monday, adding that it expected to significantly
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