Highland mainline closed due to rising flood water, Network Rail Scotland warns after sharing video of Gynack Burn close to overtopping railway at Kingussie
Rail passengers on the Highland mainline face major disruption after rising river levels forced the closure of the line at Kingussie.
Network Rail Scotland confirmed the news shortly after 8.45am, sharing video of the Gynack Burn, which is dangerously close to overtopping the rail bridge.
A spokesperson said: "We’ve had to close the Highland Main Line at Kingussie, due to river levels on the Gynack Burn rising above safe limits. Here’s a video of conditions a few minutes ago.
We’ve had to close the Highland Main Line at Kingussie, due to river levels on the Gynack Burn rising above safe limits. Here’s a video of conditions a few minutes ago.
— Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) December 30, 2024
We’re working with @ScotRail @LNER and @DRSgovUK to manage the impact on train services. More soon. pic.twitter.com/rBNvP2M3st
"We’re working with ScotRail, LNER and Direct Rail Services to manage the impact on train services. More soon."
Confirming the closure, ScotRail said: “Northbound services towards Inverness will terminate at Perth. Southbound services will start form Perth towards Glasgow and Edinburgh. Intermediate stations between Perth and Inverness will be serviced by alternative road transport.”
🟡 UPDATE: Northbound services towards Inverness will terminate at Perth. Southbound services will start form Perth towards Glasgow and Edinburgh.
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) December 30, 2024
Intermediate stations between Perth and Inverness will be serviced by alternative road transport.
The closure of the Highland mainline comes amid an active Met Office weather alert for heavy rain and snow. Thirteen flood warnings were active in the north on Monday morning, including along the Spey between Newtonmore and Kingussie.
The weather has led to disruption to rail, air and sea journeys, and there were already some ScotRail service cancellations on the Far North and Inverness-Aberdeen lines at the time of writing.
Flooding is also causing issues elsewhere on the Highland rail network, with the West Highland Line also closed due to flooding near Glenfinnan.
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