Major rail line closed due to flooding as heavy rain batters Scotland

Persistent heavy rainfall has brought flooding and significant travel disruption across Scotland.

Major rail line in the Highlands closed due to flooding and travel disrupted as heavy rain hits Scotland Network Rail via Supplied

A major train line has been closed due to flooding and travel has been disrupted across the country as heavy rain batters Scotland.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain for western parts of the country on Sunday at 6pm, which will be in force until 9pm on Monday.

Forecasters said a further 40 to 75mm of rain may fall on Monday in parts of Argyll, Lochaber and Wester Ross.

As a result, a number of ScotRail services have been significantly disrupted.

Flooding has blocked the Highland Mainline near Kingussie, railway bosses announced on Monday.

Network Rail Scotland confirmed shortly before 8am that the key line linking Inverness to the central belt had been blocked by rising water.

A spokesperson said: “Due to flooding of the route near Kingussie, the line between Inverness and Perth is currently closed. Our teams are on site and will work to reduce water levels before carrying out necessary safety inspections.”

ScotRail confirmed that travel disruption will affect services running to and from the Highlands on Monday.

Some services will be cancelled, while others will be delayed and will take longer to reach their destinations.

Posting on X on Sunday evening, ScotRail wrote: “Travelling in the Highlands, or to/from the Highlands tomorrow (5 Feb)?

“There’s changes to services on the Inverness-Glasgow/Edinburgh route, as well as the Kyle, Far North and West Highland lines.

“Journeys will be delayed by 30 mins, some will not run – check your journey.

“If you’re travelling between Aberdeen and Inverness tomorrow, all services will run but journeys will take 30 mins longer.

“Likewise on the Wemyss Bay line, where delays of 10 mins in each direction are expected. This is due to safety-related speed restrictions being imposed.”

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Elsewhere, Police Scotland confirmed that the B8063, four miles west of Torrin, Isle of Skye, was closed in both directions due to a landslide.

A spokesperson said: “Due to a landslide, there is a road closure on the B8063, four miles west of Torrin, Isle of Skye. The road is closed in both directions.

“Motorists are asked to avoid the area.”

Meanwhile the A836, north of Tain, has also been closed in both directions due to a fallen tree.

Drivers are being asked to avoid the area at this time.

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