Rail passengers are urged no to travel on services heading to and from Scotland on the West Coast Mainline after a tree fell onto the tracks earlier this morning.
The tree came down between Lockerbie and Carlisle in the early hours of today, Monday June 30, completely blocking the line between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh.
It has damaged the overhead wires on the line near Beattock.
As a result, trains running to and from the North West of England will start and terminate at Carlisle.
Andy McClements, customer experience and transformation director of TransPennine Express, said: “It’s rare that we advise customers not to travel, but it is likely to take much of today to clear the tree from the lines and we cannot guarantee travel between Carlisle and either Glasgow or Edinburgh.
“We will have additional members of staff out and about on the route today to help our customers, and we are allowing customers with tickets to travel tomorrow to help get them where they need to be.”
Customers who have already bought tickets for travel today, Monday June 30, can use those tickets on services tomorrow Tuesday. Alternatively, if customers are unable to travel, they can apply for refunds from the points of purchase.
Anyone choosing to travel today can use their ticket on the following services:
- Between Edinburgh and Manchester in both directions on the East Coast Mainline (Via York) on TransPennine Express services.
- Between Edinburgh and York in both directions on any LNER or CrossCountry service.
- Between Edinburgh and Newcastle in both directions on LUMO services.
- Between Carlisle and Newcastle, and Manchester Airport and Lancaster in both directions on Northern services.
- Between Carlisle and Preston in both directions on Avanti West Coast services (And between Scotland and Preston in both directions once the line reopens)
- Between Glasgow stations and Edinburgh in both directions on Scotrail services.
Avanti West Coast said people due to travel to or from Scotland today, tickets dated June 30 can be used on any Avanti West Coast train, via the same route tomorrow, July 1.
