Storm Bram: Train routes impacted as yellow weather warning remains in place across Scotland

A yellow weather warning for wind remains in place for much of Scotland as Storm Bram continues to batter the country.

On Tuesday, an amber weather warning was in effect across the Highlands, the Western Isles, and Argyll and Bute. resulting in wind gusts of up to 90mph.

Three yellow wind warnings are still in place until 11.59pm, covering the whole of Scotland apart from Shetland.

ScotRail has confirmed that a majority of services are unaffected, however, those on the Fort William to Mallaig line, Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh line and Cathcart to Neilston line are still closed to allow for inspections for damage.

Network Rail said: “Routes closed by #StormBram (Fort William – Mallaig and Dingwall – Kyle of Lochalsh) must be inspected at first light for damage or debris before reopening.

“We’ll use our engineers, locomotives and empty @ScotRail trains to do this, and we’ll keep you updated in the morning.”

According to the CalMac website all 30 routes remain impacted by the adverse weather conditions with some services being cancelled.

On Tuesday evening, Network Rail said a train struck a trampoline on the line south of Perth.

A statement read: “The train is back on the move, but if you live next to the railway, please help us by securing garden furniture, sheds and trampolines so we can keep services moving.”

Network Rail also said a fallen tree was causing overhead wire damage near Whitecraigs on the Glasgow Central to Neilston line.

ScotRail said on X: “Network Rail are responding to reports of a tree falling onto the overhead lines near Whitecraigs.

“Services on our Glasgow Central – Neilston line will be cancelled, delayed or revised until this tree has been removed, the damage inspected and repairs carried out.”

Additionally, the operator said two fallen trees on the line between Kilmarnock and Carlisle via Dumfries, one at Thornhill and one at Eastriggs, were causing disruption.

One of the trees is trapped underneath the train with engineers en route.

Glasgow Airport said a number of arriving and departing flights were experiencing delays or diversions.

A statement read: “We advise passengers, as well as those collecting friends and family, to check the status of their flight with airlines.”

Strong winds and heavy rain brought down power lines, leaving many homes and businesses without electricity.

Engineers have been deployed to assess the damage, but the duration of restoration efforts remains unknown due to hazardous conditions.

CalMac has said a number of ferry routes on the west coast are cancelled or are facing disruption.

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Winds of up to 90mph have been forecast as the Met Office issues weather warnings.

Due to strong winds exceeding 50mph, the Forth Road Bridge was closed to double-deck buses, motorcycles, vehicles with trailers, cyclists and pedestrians.

The Tay Road Bridge remains closed to high-sided vehicles.

Forecasters say a deep area of low pressure passing to the west of Scotland will drive exceptionally strong southwesterly winds into western and northern areas.

Gusts of 70–80mph are widely expected, with the possibility of 90mph gusts in exposed locations.

Insight Jo Farrow STV News weather forecaster

Scotland is stuck in a mild but wet and windy Atlantic flow this week. There have been bouts of heavy rain moving north-eastwards adding to rivers and puddles but also after the recent “Super” full moon there have been high spring tides and coastal flooding.

Next will be Storm Bram midweek, which has been named by Met Éireann, the Irish Meteorological Service which will bring more heavy rain on Tuesday morning.

This is the second named storm from the western naming group of UK, Ireland and the Met Office. Storm Amy was early in October and we have also seen Claudia which brought heavy rain to the UK. Claudia was named by the Spanish Met Service in a different southwest naming group.

Bram (as in Abraham) looks set to bring heavy rain from the south early on Tuesday. Much of mainland Scotland will see a grim Tuesday morning with heavy rain and blustery winds although it will feel strangely mild in this southerly flow. Don’t be fooled in northern Scotland early on Tuesday where there will be a calmer, drier start. The weather will deteriorate especially for the Western Isles.

Depending on the track of the windstorm it looks like the west coast of Ireland will see wild conditions by day and these should reach the west coast of Scotland by Tuesday afternoon.

The storm will then rage through Tuesday night for western Scotland with an Amber wind warning for the Western Isles. The wild weather will continue into Wednesday morning for the northwest and north of Scotland, particularly for the Islands. with a windy day across the mainland.

The winds will ease down as the storm slowly eases away northwards towards western Norway but it will take until Friday for calmer weather to arrive for Scotland.

A strong Jetstream across the Atlantic is directing low pressures our way and helping to deepen some of them. There has been cold air over North America which bought snow to Washington on Friday as the World Cup fixtures were being announced. There is still milder air over the mid-Atlantic and the stark temperature contrast helps strengthen the jet at this time of year.

Storm Bram will deepen rapidly on Tuesday as it moves northwards past western Ireland and then western Scotland. The Inshore Waters forecast from the Met Office mentions Severe gale force 9 winds, up to Storm force 10, even violent storm force 11 around The Minch with very rough, even high seas. Expect ferry disruption.