UPDATE: Relief for rail passengers as the whole Highland network returns to normal service
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Trains are running as normal across all Highland services for the first time since Storm Gerrit struck on Wednesday.
ScotRail was forced to cancel numerous journeys as ferocious winds, snow and heavy rain sent debris, fallen trees, landslips and flood water across tracks.
A huge track ‘proving’ exercise was carried out by Network Rail teams from first light yesterday to clear the lines and complete safety checks.
Services will now run as scheduled to and from Inverness on the Far North Line to Wick and Thurso, the north Highland service to Kyle of Lochalsh, the Inverness to Aberdeen route and the Highland Mainline service to Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Most of Scotland’s 1,752 of railway is now operational again and a ScotRail spokesman said: “As you can imagine it has been a pretty fast moving situation over the last few days, but we’re happy to report that all lines in the Highlands are now reopened and running as planned.
“We had some residual disruption this morning with speed restrictions in place meaning some of the early morning services were altered, cancelled or replaced with buses.
“But these restrictions have now been lifted and the services should operate as normal for the rest of the day.”
