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Inverness-Aberdeen railway line damage sparks disruption to services, ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland confirm


By Philip Murray

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A ScotRail train on the Inverness-Aberdeen line at Forres. Picture: Daniel Forsyth. Image No.039367.
A ScotRail train on the Inverness-Aberdeen line at Forres. Picture: Daniel Forsyth. Image No.039367.

DAMAGED track on the Inverness-Aberdeen line sparked the closure of the route this morning.

A collapsed culvert left a void on the line at the Alves Junction near Elgin, Network Rail Scotland engineers have confirmed.

A section of the route has been closed while repairs are carried out, although engineers have warned that the work "looks to be more complicated than first thought".

ScotRail has confirmed that all services between Inverness and Aberdeen will terminate at Elgin and restart at Forres. Bus replacements have also been source.

Announcing the disruption, Network Rail Scotland said: "We're on-site at Alves Junction, near Elgin. A collapsed culvert on the track means a temporary line closure between Inverness and Aberdeen is in place disrupting services.

"Engineers currently on site confirm the repairs look to be more complicated than first thought. We'll need to fill the void on the line with ballast before checking the overall structure and allowing the first train to run over the defected area."

They urged passengers to check www.scotrail.co.uk for the latest updates.

A ScotRail spokesman said: "For safety reasons, services will be unable to run between Aberdeen and Inverness. Services from Aberdeen to Inverness will continue to run as far as Elgin.

"We have secured one D&E bus confirmed at Inverness to run to Aberdeen.

"We have arranged for your rail tickets to be accepted on the following local Stagecoach North bus routes. Please note Insch is not covered by local bus agreements."

  • 10/10B: Inverness - Aberdeen
  • 31: Elgin - Forres
  • 35: Elgin -Aberdeen
  • 37: Inverurie - Aberdeen

Meanwhile, rail passengers on other Highland lines have been warned of continued disruption caused by heavy rains.

ScotRail said that speed restrictions remain in place on the Far North, Kyle of Lochalsh and Highland mainlines.

A Met Office yellow warning for heavy rain remained at force at the time of writing. It is expected to run until 3pm on Wednesday afternoon.


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