Storm Eowyn: Transpennine Express urge customers 'not to travel' to Scotland

A cross-border train operator has urged customers not to travel to Scotland as Storm Eowyn batters the country with 90mph winds.

In a statement posted on its website, Transpennine Express urged customers not to travel to Scotland, York, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Manchester on Friday.

It comes as thousands of Rangers fans travel to Manchester for the club’s game against Man United on Thursday night.

The major storm could see travellers stranded and unable to return home.

Live

Schools close and people told to stay indoors as red alert issued for Storm Eowyn

The Met Office issued a red weather warning for Friday as very strong winds are expected to disrupt the country.

It comes after the Met Office issued an amber warning for wind across southern and most of central Scotland between 6am and 9pm on Friday.

The warning covers Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, the Highlands, Tayside, Strathclyde, the Scottish Borders and parts of the Lothians.

Additional yellow warnings for snow and wind have also been issued, the first of which comes into force at midnight on Friday.

Insight

Storm Eowyn could bring most intense weather to hit Scotland in years

Sean Batty

Storm Eowyn is the fifth named storm of the season after Storm Darragh brought strong winds and snow to parts of the UK in December.

The windy conditions are likely to disrupt road, rail, air, and ferry travel, potentially leading to longer journey times, bridge restrictions, and service cancellations.

Transpennine Express said services that we are able to operate across the rest of the TransPennine Express network will run to an amended timetable and may be subject to significant disruption with short notice.

It added that alterations and cancellations are all possible.

Andrew McClements, customer experience & transformation director, said “Our top priority is the safety of our customers and colleagues. We will do everything possible to keep people on the move under difficult conditions, however due to the strong winds forecast for Friday we are asking people not to attempt to travel between Manchester/Liverpool and Glasgow/Edinburgh, or between York, Newcastle, and Edinburgh.

“The majority of our services on these routes will be cancelled and, due to the weather conditions, we will be unable to operate any rail replacement buses.”