TRAIN services to and from Helensburgh Central remain suspended this morning - and there are more cancellations to come later on Tuesday.

There have been no trains to or from any Helensburgh station since Sunday evening after high winds from Storm Isha struck the area, and large parts of the UK.

ScotRail suspended all its services across the country on Sunday evening as a precaution, and warned that it would be unable to run trains until all routes had been checked during daylight hours for any fallen trees, other obstructions or damage to infrastructure.

The Helensburgh Central line remained closed for the whole of Monday as a result of damage to overhead electric wires.

Engineers spent much of the day trying to recover parts of a wall and fence that were blown over next to the railway line at Glasgow Queen Street low level station.

 

 

The West Highland route via Helensburgh Upper was also closed, with damage there including a number of fallen trees blocking the line at Arrochar and Tarbet station.

However, that route has now reopened, meaning there is a very limited service linking Helensburgh Upper, Garelochhead, and Arrochar & Tarbet stations with Glasgow Queen Street.

Late on Monday evening, ScotRail advised that the line between Helensburgh and Hyndland was one of more than a dozen stretches of track that would remain shut on Tuesday as "the routes need to be proven in daylight hours".

As this article was published at 6.45am, there is no indication of when on Tuesday the Helensburgh line might reopen.

But while Storm Isha may have passed, there is more disruption on the way in the form of Storm Jocelyn, which is currently brewing in the Atlantic and is expected to hit the UK on Tuesday afternoon.

Two yellow weather warnings will come into force later today covering the Helensburgh and Lomond area - one for rain, from 7am until 6pm on Tuesday, and one for strong winds, from 4pm on Tuesday until 1pm on Wednesday.

As a result of the severe weather forecast, ScotRail has announced that trains on all its routes will be suspended from 7pm on Tuesday and will not resume on Wednesday until all lines have once again been checked to ensure they are safe.

A spokesperson said: "All services across the country will be suspended from 7pm today, Tuesday, January 23, and there will be no rush hour services on Wednesday morning, as the extreme weather from Storm Jocelyn arrives.

"With the safety of customers and staff of paramount importance, Network Rail has taken the decision to close the railway to passenger services while the worst of the weather hits the infrastructure.

Helensburgh Advertiser: A fallen tree blocked the line at Arrochar and Tarbet railway station on MondayA fallen tree blocked the line at Arrochar and Tarbet railway station on Monday (Image: Network Rail Scotland)

"The railway infrastructure across Scotland has been significantly impacted by Storm Isha, and it is expected that the predicted high winds throughout most of the country will continue to create challenges across the network.

"Customers should note than any trains that depart prior to 7pm will complete their journey, but no services will begin their journey after that time.

"Heavy winds of up to 60/70 mph are expected this evening, which could lead to trees and other debris falling onto the tracks, making conditions unsafe to operate trains. This could also lead to trains being trapped on the network.

Helensburgh Advertiser: Fallen trees have blocked the railway line at numerous locations across ScotlandFallen trees have blocked the railway line at numerous locations across Scotland (Image: Network Rail Scotland)

"Many areas have already been impacted by the extreme weather conditions experienced since Sunday, and this represents an enhanced risk for further damage to the network.

"Line closures will continue into Wednesday.

"As was the case on Monday, each route will have to undergo a safety inspection before trains are able to operate, which means it will be later on Wednesday before any trains can run."

For the latest information see the ScotRail page at JourneyCheck.com, the rail operator's official website at scotrail.co.uk, or the ScotRail feed on X (formerly Twitter).