A yellow weather warning for ‘strong winds’ is in force across Glasgow and the surrounding areas today with ‘disruption’ expected.
The Met Office confirmed the warning will remain in place from 3am until midnight.
During this time rail passengers are being urged to check before they travel.
With gusts of up to 70-80 mph expected ScotRail is warning that some of its services may be revised, delayed, or cancelled.
A statement published to the rail operator’s X [formerly Twitter] account reads: “Storm Ashley is bringing heavy rain and very strong winds across the country today.
“Before you travel, please check our app or website for the latest service information, which is being continually updated.
“Lastly, please take extra care if you’re out and about today.”
⚠️ #StormAshley is bringing heavy rain and very strong winds across the country today. Before you travel, please check our app or website for the latest service information, which is being continually updated. Lastly, please take extra care if you’re out and about today. pic.twitter.com/jMKvISZBnT
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) October 20, 2024
Thirty-one out of ScotRail’s 36 routes across the country are currently experiencing disruption.
Which train routes are affected?
- Glasgow Central – Minor disruption.
- Glasgow Queen Street – Major disruption.
- Edinburgh Waverley – Major disruption.
- Inverness – Minor disruption.
- North Clyde & Argyle line – Minor disruption
- West Highland line – Amended service
- Kilmarnock Dumfries & Carlisle – Minor disruption
For the latest timetables visit ScotRail’s website HERE.
Meanwhile, drivers are being advised to “be prepared” and to plan ahead.
Transport Scotland has issued guidance on how to drive in storms if people need to travel.
This includes using wipers, slowing down, avoiding starting journeys until heavy rain clears, and using dipped headlights.
A statement published to Transport Scotland’s X account reads: “Storm Ashley is due to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Scotland from Sunday.
“An amber warning covers the west. Consider if you need to travel and plan ahead if you must.
“A wider yellow warning is also in place. Stay weather aware.”
⚠️ #StormAshley is due to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Scotland from Sunday
🟠 An amber @metoffice warning covers the west
⚠️ Consider if you need to travel, #PlanAhead if you must🟡 Wider yellow warning also in place
Stay #WeatherAware ➡️ https://t.co/sa4eyhEUtY pic.twitter.com/msIBYa6CYz
— Transport Scotland (@transcotland) October 19, 2024
Elsewhere, Network Rail announced seven specialist ‘leaf-busting’ trains will “run around the clock” as Storm Ashley is expected to blow leaves from trees over the next 24 hours.
The specialist trains will use high-pressure water to clean slippery leaf mulch from rails.
In a video posted to social media, Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, gave further details on the trains during a visit to the Shettleston depot.
He said: “The trains will run around the clock until December blasting rails clean with high pressure to keep Scotland’s trains running on time as part of a £7 million investment.
“Leaves on the line can cause trains to lose their grip on the rails similar to black ice on the roads which means braking distances are increased.
“If this happens it can cause trains to overshoot signals or platforms and it also makes it harder for signallers to see where trains are on the network.
“Alongside these trains, we’ll have 18 dedicated leaf-busting teams spread across Scotland tackling leaf-fall black spots, scrubbing rails clean and applying hydrophobic sand that sticks to rails giving trains more grip.
“Our rapid response teams will also trial the use of drones to inspect the rails for leaf contamination from above without staff having to stop trains to access the track.”
#StormAshley will blow many leaves from trees over the next 24 hours.
We have seven specialist leaf-busting trains running around the clock which use high-pressure water to clean slippery leaf mulch from rails, helping keep trains on time during #autumn. pic.twitter.com/rCtz2z9Ln1
— Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) October 20, 2024
For the latest weather updates visit the Met Office’s website HERE.