Storm Floris disruption - 4/8/25

[marks87]

Storm Floris is due to bring winds of up to 95mph on Monday, with a yellow weather warning from 6am-midnight extending from the north of Scotland right down to the Pennines and North Wales. An amber warning has also been issued from 10am-10pm, extending from the north of Scotland down to the Central Belt.

I’d imagine there will be significant delays and cancellations if the worst of the weather plays out.

Incident: Storm Floris | National Rail

Storm Floris may impact your journey on Monday 4 August: check before you travel. Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

The Met Office has issued yellow and amber weather warnings for Monday 4 August. Storm Floris will bring strong winds, potentially in excess of 70mph, and heavy rain to some parts of northern England, northern Wales and Scotland.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I suspect it could be worse than many expect, fully leafed trees are just sails in the wind!

 

[CJSwan]

Some lines closures from 1200 (noon) tomorrow have been announced. Same article states linked below, states that LNER are advising people not to travel north of Newcastle.

“Network Rail has said a number of railway's will close at 12:00 on Monday, while all other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times due to speed restrictions.

Lines which will close:

• Edinburgh – Fife/Perth/Dundee
• Perth – Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness
• Dunblane - Perth
• Inverness – Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalsh
• West Highland Line (Helensburgh Upper – Oban, Fort William and Mallaig)”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlzkg05e1go

 

[dodecahedron67]

TPE running no services north of Carlisle and Newcastle tomorrow

 

[londonmidland]

Avanti West Coast are doing their usual thing and advising passengers not to travel north of Preston.

We’re advising customers not to travel north of Preston tomorrow, 4 August, as our Anglo-Scot route is expected to be heavily affected by Storm Floris. Destinations north of Preston include Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh. Tickets to travel North of Preston dated for tomorrow will be accepted to travel today Sunday 3 August or Tuesday 5 August.

 

[68001]

No lumo service north of Newcastle Monday 4th

 

[Snow1964]

Avanti West Coast are doing their usual thing and advising passengers not to travel north of Preston.

The Amber area only covers area north of Lanark, and Berwick on Tweed (no part of England is in amber area) It applies 10:00 to 22:00 (so not morning peak hour for those going to work for the week, or returning from a weekend) so not operating anything north of Preston seems to be excessive caution.

Now before anyone points out there is also a yellow warning area, that includes Preston, it runs from Barmouth via roughly Warrington, and York to near Scarborough, so they have picked a point within the yellow area, not on boundary. It sounds more like it is operationally convenient station rather than boundary of bad weather forecasted zone that has been chosen.

 

[reb0118]

I don't start work until 15:46. I was hopping to get my hedges cut.

 

[68000]

The Amber area only covers area north of Lanark, and Berwick on Tweed (no part of England is in amber area) so not operating anything north of Preston seems to be excessive caution.

Now before anyone points out there is also a yellow warning area, that includes Preston, it runs from Barmouth via roughly Warrington, and York to near Scarborough, so they have picked a point within the yellow area, not on boundary. It sounds more like it is operationally convenient station rather than boundary of bad weather forecasted zone that has been chosen.

Ever since British Rail days, the intercity service changed crew at Preston therefore it is Glasgow / Edinburgh based crew that does the Preston - Scotland leg of the journey. Virgin Trains and AWC kept that arrangement

 

[Narrowgauge725]

LNER have informed my daughter that her train from Berwick start in Newcastle tomorrow. She has had to book a train down to Newcastle tomorrow tonight and will stay with a friend. Strange thing is you can still buy tickets on LNER site feo
Berwick!

 

[Murray J]

Avanti West Coast are doing their usual thing and advising passengers not to travel north of Preston.

What are the chances that they're taking reasonable precautions here and there'll be significant disruption? I'm asking because I'm supposed to be travelling from Windermere to London tomorrow and if I don't then I'll be stuck in the Lake District without a hotel for the night!

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Looking at the cancellations, I don’t think any electric traction is going North of Newcastle tomorrow.

 

[800001]

What are the chances that they're taking reasonable precautions here and there'll be significant disruption? I'm asking because I'm supposed to be travelling from Windermere to London tomorrow and if I don't then I'll be stuck in the Lake District without a hotel for the night!

Think this is a case of decide what you want to do.
The weather forecasters have been on about this for several days now.

I've altered my own plans based off that forecast.

Avanti are accepting tickets for travel today, if you are able to travel today as Avanti clearly state they will not be operating trains north of Preston tomorrow.

 

[d70g]

I do have an issue with in effect closing down the Inter-City network north of Preston/Newcastle. By all means advise of possible or even probable disruption, safety first, make contingency, risk of displaced units and traincrew etc, but to give up the ghost beforehand, when we don’t know how severe the winds will be, feels like an easy out.

 

[Murray J]

Think this is a case of decide what you want to do.
The weather forecasters have been on about this for several days now.

I've altered my own plans based off that forecast.

Avanti are accepting tickets for travel today, if you are able to travel today as Avanti clearly state they will not be operating trains north of Preston tomorrow.

Northern aren't saying anything so far, do you know if they typically do similar and not operate services in a certain area in storms?

 

[Horizon22]

What are the chances that they're taking reasonable precautions here and there'll be significant disruption? I'm asking because I'm supposed to be travelling from Windermere to London tomorrow and if I don't then I'll be stuck in the Lake District without a hotel for the night!

The advice is out there based on the liaision between Network Rail, operators and the forecaster (MetDesk). To do nothing would be a dereliction of duties, but when actions are taken, people state it is too much.

The operators then work out their plans. Take this as what is happening, and if services run above and beyond this (unlikely) as a bonus, but certainly not something to be relied upon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2025 ==

I do have an issue with in effect closing down the Inter-City network north of Preston/Newcastle. By all means advise of possible or even probable disruption, safety first, make contingency, risk of displaced units and traincrew etc, but to give up the ghost beforehand, when we don’t know how severe the winds will be, feels like an easy out.

Only within 2 minutes of my post!

Weather forecasting is quite advanced now. I don't see how what is suggested is not "safety first and making contingency"?

 

[181]

Today, many hours before the storm, LNER's Inverness train was cancelled north of Edinburgh, with buses for onward travel, and the weather forecast given as the reason. Onboard announcements claimed there were no alternative Scotrail services except to Haymarket, but I've reached Stirling (my destination) by Scotrail, and everything except LNER seems to be running normally (I'd hope so too). Presumably LNER didn't want their train stuck in Inverness, and maybe it's for the greater good, but putting passengers on a bus for over 3 hours the day before predicted bad weather seems less than ideal.

 

[800001]

I do have an issue with in effect closing down the Inter-City network north of Preston/Newcastle. By all means advise of possible or even probable disruption, safety first, make contingency, risk of displaced units and traincrew etc, but to give up the ghost beforehand, when we don’t know how severe the winds will be, feels like an easy out.

And every storm we have this same comment said, and then the day of storm, trees down on the line, OHL down, obstructions on line etc.

This is safety first.

What would you like to see a train at 75mph coming face to face with a fallen tree?

What would suggest the train companies do?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2025 ==

Today, many hours before the storm, LNER's Inverness train was cancelled north of Edinburgh, with buses for onward travel, and the weather forecast given as the reason. Onboard announcements claimed there were no alternative Scotrail services except to Haymarket, but I've reached Stirling (my destination) by Scotrail, and everything except LNER seems to be running normally (I'd hope so too). Presumably LNER didn't want their train stuck in Inverness, and maybe it's for the greater good, but putting passengers on a bus for over 3 hours the day before predicted bad weather seems less than ideal.

As you say, LNER do not want a train (and their Crew (Edinburgh driver and guard) stuck in Inverness.
The train stables in the platform and does not go on depot.

 

[d70g]

And every storm we have this same comment said, and then the day of storm, trees down on the line, OHL down, obstructions on line etc.

This is safety first.

What would you like to see a train at 75mph coming face to face with a fallen tree?

I’d suggest a Do Not Travel warning, reduced services and restricted line speed (plus closing of lines when warranted), all being preferable to significant parts of the country without trains.

 

[800001]

I’d suggest a Do Not Travel warning, reduced services and restricted line speed (plus closing of lines when warranted), all being preferable to significant parts of the country without trains.

And as happens in majority of these storms, when what you suggest is implemented, trains are stranded in middle of know where or damaged due to hitting things, then this same forum has people saying why on earth were the train companies running trains.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I'm intrigued that the Met Office map of the Yellow Weather Warning covers the whole of the north of Ireland with the exception of Co Donegal, which is part of Ulster and will be on the front line of the storm. Presumably the residents of Donegal are being directed to Met Eireann in Dublin for any warning.

Edit: I can see no Yellow Weather Warning on the Met Eireann website!

 

[68000]

What are the chances that they're taking reasonable precautions here and there'll be significant disruption? I'm asking because I'm supposed to be travelling from Windermere to London tomorrow and if I don't then I'll be stuck in the Lake District without a hotel for the night!

The aftermath of the Stonehaven crash being played out

 

[185143]

And every storm we have this same comment said, and then the day of storm, trees down on the line, OHL down, obstructions on line etc.

This is safety first.

What would you like to see a train at 75mph coming face to face with a fallen tree?

What would suggest the train companies do?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2025 ==


As you say, LNER do not want a train (and their Crew (Edinburgh driver and guard) stuck in Inverness.
The train stables in the platform and does not go on depot.

Exactly.

Let's say there is to be damage with the line shut for an extended period. That's then an Azuma and a traincrew (who won't sign the route) that need recovering via Elgin and Aberdeen, or are stranded UFN. Neither option is exactly ideal. OK the crew can be recovered via a taxi, train via Aberdeen or if it came to it I presume, a flight from Inverness Airport. Whereas losing a 9 car diesel Azuma for a long period will have a far longer disruptive period than cancelling one train.

 

[170UTD]

I'm just curious: 1W02 is cancelled tomorrow according to the LNER app, not that it really bothers me as I was only going to use it between Leeds and York and there are plenty of alternatives, but why can it not simply terminate short at Newcastle?

 

[Murray J]

The advice is out there based on the liaision between Network Rail, operators and the forecaster (MetDesk). To do nothing would be a dereliction of duties, but when actions are taken, people state it is too much.

The operators then work out their plans. Take this as what is happening, and if services run above and beyond this (unlikely) as a bonus, but certainly not something to be relied upon.

Thanks, that sounds about right. Northern don't seem too concerned just yet so hopefully their Windermere services are still running, if necessary I can get that to Manchester.

 

[800001]

I'm just curious: 1W02 is cancelled tomorrow according to the LNER app, not that it really bothers me as I was only going to use it between Leeds and York and there are plenty of alternatives, but why can it not simply terminate short at Newcastle?

What do you then do with that unit?
If they are only running majority of services Newcastle to London, they probably have enough units to do so.

Yes, this is probably operational convenience by LNER.

 

[bramling]

What are the chances that they're taking reasonable precautions here and there'll be significant disruption? I'm asking because I'm supposed to be travelling from Windermere to London tomorrow and if I don't then I'll be stuck in the Lake District without a hotel for the night!

Strong winds combined with trees in full leaf is never a good combination. The recent periods of little to zero rainfall will also not have done some trees any good, though I’m not sure if the low rainfall levels have applied to the north of the country as much as the south. So all in all yes it’s quite possible there will be significant disruption if the storm is as strong as the warnings seem to be suggesting.

 

[mikeg]

I'm travelling from Selby to Kings Cross, via Leeds tomorrow, and then on to Portsmouth & Southsea to make a ferry connection. What are the chances this will be disrupted severely? I'm guessing it's a 'how long's a piece of string' question...

Furthermore, I appreciate the need to take precaution but TOCs abandoning parts of the country wholesale is just going to encourage people to drive (more dangerous). A 'whole system' approach to safety needs to be taken. Do not travel, yes. Abandon services purely as a precaution? No.

 

[thealexweb]

Avanti West Coast are doing their usual thing and advising passengers not to travel north of Preston.

I see TPE plan to run to Carlisle if they can. How Avanti can get away with nothing north of Preston almost weekly is shocking.

 

[800001]

I see TPE plan to run to Carlisle if they can. How Avanti can get away with nothing north of Preston almost weekly is shocking.

What would you suggest they did then if Avanti also ran to Carlisle.

As you can guarantee passengers for Glasgow etc would still travel and expect to get from Carlisle onwards.